animal shelter

American

[an-uh-muhl shel-ter] / ˈæn ə məl ˌʃɛl tər /

noun

an establishment, maintained by local government or supported by charitable contributions, that provides a temporary home for dogs, cats, and other animals that are offered for adoption, and puts to sleep homeless animals that have been deemed unsuitable for adoption.

The animal shelter is requesting donations of old towels, blankets, and other linens.

Etymology

Origin of animal shelter

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A woman who was mauled by a dog at a Los Angeles city animal shelter has been awarded $5.4 million by a jury.

From Los Angeles Times

Chu’s office visited an animal shelter in the wake of the Eaton fire and encountered a gray cat with severe burns on its face and all four legs.

From Los Angeles Times

Vonn adopted Leo from an animal shelter in January 2014, days after she came to the realization she would not be able to compete in that year’s Winter Games because of a knee injury.

From Los Angeles Times

He was adopted from the renowned London animal shelter, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, when he was believed to be about four years old.

From Barron's

He had chosen Moose at the animal shelter, more than six years ago.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023