Galveston Island Humane Society — Local services in Galveston

It pains me to write a negative review, especially since I found my first best friend of 11 years here and had absolutely no issues, but I feel potential adopters should be aware. I put in an application for a dog on a Friday night. Knowing Saturdays are popular for adoptions and multiple applicants can submit for the same dog, I didn't get my hopes up it would be available by the end of the weekend. However, GIHS called me Saturday afternoon, around 3pm, asking when I could come in and meet this specific dog. I let them know I am not local and could not get there before they closed that day, but could be there Monday as soon as possible. The staff member confirmed the appointment and stated she went ahead and approved my application for this particular dog. Monday morning, we noticed the dog was no longer listed on the website. Because I was about to make an hour and a half drive, I called to verify the appointment. The staff member who answered the phone stated the dog was "unavailable" and had "multiple applicants." When I pressed for further information to clarify since they were the ones who called me to see the dog, someone stated a rescue had been trying to "pull this particular dog for awhile." When I explained the situation, they stated a "new staff member" made a mistake in approving me. I also explained I had taken the day off of work and was about to make the drive, however was not offered so much as an apology. Instead I was only told my application could remain on file for any other dogs available at the shelter. We have reached back out to GIHS for additional information, however have yet to hear back. It's unclear why they would send a dog with a rescue when there were "multiple" applicants ready and willing to take the dog to a loving home. It's also concerning that no one from GIHS notified me the dog was unavailable and we would have made an hour and a half drive for no reason, unless we thought to check the website beforehand. Please do better, GIHS. Everyone is on the same team and the goal is to find these animals loving homes. By falsely providing information and disappointing potential adopters, you'll only push people away. Update: GIHS refused to release the name of the rescue, claiming safety reasons. In a twist of fate, the same dog popped up later on a rescue group's Facebook page that I followed. When I reached out to inquire about adoption and told them what happened with GIHS, they were confused and stated they were asked to take the dog after my application had been approved. After a couple of conversations, the rescue felt the dog was always meant to be mine, and I officially adopted my sweet girl. She found her way to where she was meant to be, but unfortunately, no...

Really good place with good people. The volunteers here are really about helping animals and people. They have helped me multiple times with strays and with pets, and I have never felt judged. Last year I had a litter of kittens I found in Bolivar and a mama. I kept one of the kittens and the mama, and took the others in after taking care of them at home as long as I could.

They took the 3 I gave them and found wonderful homes for them with in weeks. They took the littles at no adoption cost to me, helped me to get spay vouchers for my 2 older cats, and free 1 year shots? I was able to get the last one spayed for cheap.

I also used to have a puppy, but my neighbors did not like her because she barked, so my landlord made me re-home her. At the time I had no money to move elsewhere, so it was either that or be homeless. The GHIS helped me to find a new home for her, and worked with Flori until they found a good fit. To the best of my knowledge she has been adopted, and still with those owners

She was also a runner, and always finding new ways to escape. She even pulled a pole with concrete half way out of the ground! The Galveston shelter was really helpful, and helped me find solutions that eventually worked. She had a couple months with out escaping before my landlord wanted to rehome her.

The last time I saw her was at a pet expo in Petsmart. I was there for something else, and they had her and a bunch of other puppies greeting people. A man from San Antonio was interested in her, and a few days later when I checked, she had been adopted. To the best of my knowledge, she is on a Ranch living her best life. I still feel really sad when I think about her, but I know the the local Humane Society gave Flori 110% of the support they could, and I appreciate how hard they worked to make sure she...

I can’t say enough wonderful things about the Galveston Island Humane Society! Adopting my sweet dog Chloe from them was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and the experience was truly special. From the moment I walked in, the staff greeted me with warmth and genuine enthusiasm, making it clear that their priority is finding loving homes for every animal in their care. The facility was clean, well-organized, and radiated a sense of dedication and compassion. The team was incredibly supportive and knowledgeable, answering all my questions and guiding me through the adoption process with care. When I saw Chloe, I knew she was meant to be mine, and the staff helped make that happen seamlessly. They didn’t just facilitate an adoption; they opened the door to a bond that’s transformed my life. Chloe had some health challenges when I brought her home, but the staff was upfront about her needs and provided me with all the information I needed to help her thrive. Their transparency and follow-up support after the adoption showed how deeply they care about their animals and adopters. With a little love and care, Chloe’s blossoming into the most amazing companion, and I’m so grateful to the Galveston Island Humane Society for giving us this chance. This isn’t just a shelter—it’s a lifeline for animals and a treasure for the community. The work they do is inspiring, and I’m forever thankful for them bringing Chloe into my life. If you’re thinking about adopting, this is the place to go—where every pet has a story, and every adopter gets to write the...