Shelter for Homeless Animals Permit

If you pass the pre-permit inspection and the supervising manager has obtained an Animal Care & Handling Certificate, you may begin to operate. You must post both the inspection report you receive from the DOHMH inspector AND the Certificate for public view. You will receive your actual Permit in the mail.

If you submitted your application online, you will receive a receipt via e-mail. If you submitted it in person, DCWP will hand you a receipt. Your business may not begin to operate until it has received and passed a pre-permit inspection from the Department AND the supervising manager has received the Animal Care & Handling Certificate.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will process the application and will contact the applicant for any additional information or documentation required to process the application.

If required documents were not uploaded, the applicant will receive a letter requesting that they submit the missing documents to the Citywide Licensing Center in person or by mail within 10 days or withdraw their application. If the applicant fails to respond to that letter, they will be sent a second letter. If the applicant fails to respond to the second letter, their application will be terminated. Applicants whose applications are terminated or withdrawn may request a refund by calling 311. Refunds are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

After you have submitted your application, contact the DOHMH Bureau of Veterinary Public Health Services at (646) 364-1783 to schedule an inspection. Your business will not be issued a permit without passing a pre-permit inspection.