Furry Friends Refuge

Furry Friends Refuge Furry Friends, a no-kill shelter, is a nonprofit serving central Iowa’s animals in need.
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Furry Friends Refuge has moved all adoptions to our 3505 Mills Civic Parkway location in West Des Moines.

🚗💨 Meet Ford! 💨🚗This big-hearted boy is ready to cruise into a brand-new adventure with a family of his own! Ford is a y...
06/07/2026

🚗💨 Meet Ford! 💨🚗
This big-hearted boy is ready to cruise into a brand-new adventure with a family of his own! Ford is a young, goofy, high-energy guy who wakes up every day ready to play, explore, and make new friends.
Like many young pups, he's eager to learn and loves making his people proud. In the short time he's been with us, he's already mastered "sit," knows his name, and is working hard on polishing up those leash manners!
Ford enjoys playing with other dogs, but he'd love a patient canine buddy who can help teach him when it's time to take a break. Bonus points if there are puppies around—he absolutely adores them!
One of our favorite things about Ford is his endless supply of silly expressions. Whether he's rocking an inside-out ear, sporting a dramatic pout, or getting his lip hilariously stuck on his teef, this boy keeps us laughing every day. ❤️
Underneath all that goofiness is an affectionate sweetheart who greets everyone with kisses, tail wags, and enough love to fill a whole parking lot.
Ready to add some horsepower to your life? Come meet this lovable goofball today between 11–5 PM, or stop by later this week from 2–8 PM!

Our kittens may be stealing the spotlight lately (and honestly, can you blame them?), but we have plenty of fabulous adu...
06/05/2026

Our kittens may be stealing the spotlight lately (and honestly, can you blame them?), but we have plenty of fabulous adult cats waiting for their chance to shine! 🌟🐱
These grown-up beauties have all the charm, personality, and affection you could ask for. Whether they're soaking up sunbeams, keeping watch over the birds outside the window, or wrestling with their feline roommates, they're dreaming of a forever home with more room to explore and more humans to love!
Featured here are four of our biggest social butterflies and professional cuddle experts: Harley, Tabby, Kat, and Reggie! ❤️
If you're looking for a loyal companion who has already mastered the art of being an amazing cat, come meet them today at our Mills Civic location from 2–8 PM, or stop by this weekend from 11 AM–5 PM.
These sweethearts are ready to trade shelter life for a spot on your couch—and in your heart! 🐾

Can you help our dogs out?  The shelter is a stressful place—dogs who are waiting here for a foster or adopter sometimes...
06/04/2026

Can you help our dogs out? The shelter is a stressful place—dogs who are waiting here for a foster or adopter sometimes struggle with behaviors related to this stress like chewing on bedding. For those dogs, we need specialized beds that are not able to be torn apart. This is not only essential for them to have usable bed, but to prevent them from ingesting items that can be dangerous for them like pieces of fabric. We currently do not have enough of these beds to ensure all of our dogs can have a soft and safe place to lie down in their kennels. Can you help us by donating one of these beds? These specific beds have vinyl sleeping areas that are durable and metal frames that cannot be torn apart and are easily sanitized (as pictured with the adorable and adoptable Atlas). You can donate to help us purchase these beds at Furryfriendsrefuge.org/donate. You can purchase a bed for the shelter through this link:

https://shelterbeds.org/donate/194293

Look at this BIG handsome tomcat! 🐈Meet Big Tex!This chunky-cheeked charmer has absolutely stunned both his finders and ...
05/29/2026

Look at this BIG handsome tomcat! 🐈Meet Big Tex!
This chunky-cheeked charmer has absolutely stunned both his finders and shelter staff by being one of the sweetest tomcats around. Seriously... just LOOK at those cheeks! 🥰
Tex wears a few battle scars from his days out on the streets but now that he's been fully vetted, he's settling in wonderfully with his feline roommates. Despite his tough-guy appearance, this boy is all love!
Big Tex is FIV+, which means he is more vulnerable to infections and needs a family who is prepared for additional medical costs in his future. The good news? FIV is primarily spread through deep bite wounds, and since Tex has proven himself to be friendly and respectful with other cats, he can safely live with feline companions.
His favorite activities include pressing his giant head into your hand for pets, soaking up every ounce of affection available, and napping belly-up with his front paws tucked in the cutest little pose imaginable. ❤️
If you're looking for a big cat with an even bigger heart, Big Tex is ready to meet you! Stop by our Mills Civic location between 2–8 PM and see why everyone is falling in love with this sweet-faced bruiser. 🐾

Happy Memorial Day!  We are open today 2-8pm—come out and meet all of the animals looking for homes (pictured: Ernie: a ...
05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day! We are open today 2-8pm—come out and meet all of the animals looking for homes (pictured: Ernie: a sweet 1 year old Husky mix in need of a family to love)

Looking for a dog, but emotionally attached to cows? Perfect. 🐄This bulldog mix has been waiting at the shelter for near...
05/24/2026

Looking for a dog, but emotionally attached to cows? Perfect. 🐄
This bulldog mix has been waiting at the shelter for nearly a year, which is honestly shocking considering he’s basically a walking cartoon character. Poor Papa Smurf was finally adopted a month ago, but was recently returned because of housing restrictions.
He loves carrying toys around in his mouth like precious treasures, hands out kisses for free, and is powered almost entirely by snacks and cuddles.
He would prefer to be your one and only dog (main character energy). He is a favorite for volunteers to walk on a leash.
He’s goofy, affectionate, food-motivated, and fully convinced he belongs on someone’s couch immediately. Let’s make his dreams come true! 🖤
We are open Sat/Sun 11-5pm and M-F 2-8pm at 3505 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. We will be open on Memorial Day as well for you to find a new best friend

Turning heads with her unique orange markings and the sweetest little baby face, meet Aphrodite 🧡Picked up as a stray by...
05/22/2026

Turning heads with her unique orange markings and the sweetest little baby face, meet Aphrodite 🧡Picked up as a stray by animal control, we truly can’t believe no one came looking for this gorgeous girl. Now that she has found herself in a cozy new space she spends her days curled up on cat trees and enjoying treats!
When it comes to other kitties, Aphrodite likes her personal space and isn’t afraid to politely say “no thank you” with a tiny hiss if they get too close. But people? Oh, she LOVES people! Pick her up, shower her with pets, scratch that adorable little chin, and she’ll be completely smitten with you in no time. She may even decide your shoulders are the perfect place to hang out!
If you’re looking for a beautiful, affectionate, and delightfully quirky new bestie, Aphrodite is ready to steal your heart! Stop by to meet her and her amazing roomies today between 2–8pm! 🐾

Our long-stay dog residents have been getting lots of love lately and finding their forever homes, and we couldn’t be ha...
05/21/2026

Our long-stay dog residents have been getting lots of love lately and finding their forever homes, and we couldn’t be happier! Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on some fresh new faces who are ready to find their forever homes! 🐾✨
We currently have a mix of rambunctious puppies and wonderful adult dogs just waiting to meet their perfect match!
First up is Winterson — a playful, rowdy goofball who spends his days zooming around, demanding attention, and convincing both puppies and adult dogs to join in on the fun! If you’re looking for a buddy who will keep life exciting, Winterson is your guy! 🎾🐶
Next is Agatha — a total sweetheart who has been absolutely flourishing! She’s loving meeting new people and dog friends, is fully housebroken, knows her manners, and is an absolute dream on walks. In her free time, she enjoys soaking up pets, practicing her commands, supervising the puppies like a tiny manager, and of course… snacking on grass whenever possible. 🌱💕
Interested in meeting these adorable pups or any of our other furry friends? Stop by our Mills Civic shelter during open hours!
📍 Monday–Friday: 2pm–8pm�📍 Saturday–Sunday: 11am–5pm

We warned you… kitten season has officially arrived! 🐾☀️Just this week alone, we’ve taken in about twenty stray kittens ...
05/19/2026

We warned you… kitten season has officially arrived! 🐾☀️
Just this week alone, we’ve taken in about twenty stray kittens who are now safe, cozy, and thriving with our incredible foster families! And now, our first big wave of tiny babies has grown up enough to start searching for their forever homes!
Looking for the perfect sidekick for your summer adventures, movie marathons, and lazy sunny afternoons? We currently have EIGHT adorable kittens available at the shelter right now — with dozens more waiting in the wings for their big debut after surgery!
These little cuties won’t stick around for long, so hurry over to our Mills Civic location between 2–8pm today to meet your new best friend! 🐱💕
Didn’t find “the one” from this fluffy lineup? Don’t worry — kitten season is just getting started! Keep a close eye on our website for even more upcoming babies at furryfriendsrefuge.org

Double the bunnies, double the fun! 🐰🎀 Meet Hank (brown) and Willie (white), an adorable bonded pair searching for their...
05/17/2026

Double the bunnies, double the fun! 🐰🎀 Meet Hank (brown) and Willie (white), an adorable bonded pair searching for their forever home together! These sweet little gentlemen are full of charm and personality. They’re super handleable, total angels for nail trims, and will happily beg for breakfast like tiny fluffy dogs! When they aren’t asking for snacks, you’ll usually find them cuddled up together being impossibly cute.
Hank and Willie are currently working on their litterbox skills and are ready to be groomed to perfection to match their very dapper bow tie attire! These boys wore their outfits with pride and absolutely loved striking a pose for the camera.
Looking to add some soft bunny snuggles, goofy antics, and double the love to your home? Come meet Hank and Willie today! 🐇🤍🤎

Address

3505 Mills Civic
West Des Moines, IA
50265

Opening Hours

Monday 2pm - 8pm
Tuesday 2pm - 8pm
Wednesday 2pm - 8pm
Thursday 2pm - 8pm
Friday 2pm - 8pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

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