COMMUNITY | EVENTS | PETS

League City’s Day of the Dog and Cat Returns Saturday With Costumes, Music and a Pet Ofrenda

League City Animal Care will open its doors Saturday evening for a celebration of beloved pets featuring a Día de los Muertos ofrenda, costume contest, vendors, food trucks and traditional music.

By Talk of League City | October 20, 2026

LEAGUE CITY, Texas — League City residents will have an opportunity Saturday to celebrate the pets currently sharing their homes — and remember the ones they have lost.

League City Animal Care’s Day of the Dog and Cat will take place Saturday, October 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Animal Care & Adoption Center, 755 W. Walker Street.

The evening combines a community pet event with elements inspired by Día de los Muertos, including an ofrenda honoring beloved animals.

A Celebration of Pets Past and Present

The event’s Día de los Muertos influence gives the evening a different tone from a traditional pet-adoption fair.

An ofrenda is a memorial display created to honor and remember loved ones who have died. At Saturday’s event, that tradition will be extended to the animals that have been part of League City families.

For residents who have lost a longtime dog, cat or other companion animal, the gathering offers a public way to remember the role those pets played in their lives.

At the same time, the event is designed to be festive, with music, food and activities for current pet owners.

Pets Can Get in on the Halloween Fun

A pet costume contest is among the activities planned for Saturday evening.

With Halloween only a week away, residents can dress up their dogs or other event-appropriate pets and take part in the seasonal celebration.

The City has not published detailed contest categories or judging rules on the main event listing, so anyone planning an elaborate entry should check with League City Animal Care for any updated instructions.

Pet-Friendly Vendors and Food Trucks

League City says pet-friendly vendors will also be part of the evening.

That gives residents an opportunity to meet businesses and organizations serving pet owners while spending time at the Animal Care campus.

Food trucks are also scheduled, making the event easy to incorporate into a Saturday evening outing rather than simply a quick stop at the shelter.

Traditional music will contribute to the Día de los Muertos atmosphere.

More Than 1,600 Adoptions in an Average Year

The event also puts a spotlight on the larger role League City Animal Care plays throughout the year.

The City says the shelter averages approximately 1,600 adoptions per year and cares for roughly 150 animals on an average day.

The facility contains 64 dog kennels and 105 cat kennels and operates with a relatively small staff serving the community.

Beyond adoption, League City Animal Care also provides lost-and-found pet assistance, foster programs, a pet pantry, microchip and identification services and animal-protection support.

Thinking About Adopting?

Residents who attend Saturday and find themselves considering a new family member can also learn more about League City’s adoption process.

The standard adoption fee at League City Animal Care is $75 for dogs and cats.

That fee includes:

• Spay or neuter surgery
• Appropriate vaccinations, including rabies vaccination
• A microchip

Most adopted pets can go home with their new family the same day.

The shelter recommends that cat adopters bring a carrier and dog adopters bring a leash, although temporary options are available when needed.

Special Adoption Programs Are Available

League City Animal Care also maintains several ongoing programs intended to reduce barriers to adoption.

Residents age 65 and older qualify for a 50% adoption-fee discount through the shelter’s Baby Boomer Buddy program.

Veterans can also receive 50% off normal adoption fees through Pets for Patriots with proof of service.

The shelter’s Heart to Heart program helps people adopt heartworm-positive dogs by sponsoring treatment through partner veterinary clinics at no cost to the adopter.

Not Ready to Adopt? Fostering Is Another Option

Residents who want to help shelter animals but are not ready for a permanent commitment can consider fostering.

League City Animal Care uses foster homes for animals that are ill, injured, stressed or need additional socialization, although the City notes that essentially any shelter animal can benefit from time in a home environment.

Foster stays commonly range from one to eight weeks depending on the animal’s needs.

Foster families provide basic care, exercise, socialization and transportation for necessary appointments while the shelter continues working toward adoption.

The Pet Resource Center Helps Keep Animals at Home

Animal welfare is not only about finding homes for pets already in a shelter.

League City’s Pet Resource Center also works with residents who are trying to keep the pets they already have.

Services include:

• Lost and found pet assistance
• Pet Pantry support
• Microchips and pet identification
• Rehoming resources
• Other assistance designed to help families care for their pets

The Pet Resource Center is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A Different Kind of Community Event

League City’s October calendar has included festivals, sports, public meetings and Halloween activities, but Day of the Dog and Cat brings together a different group of residents.

Pet owners often develop strong communities of their own — meeting at parks, walking through neighborhoods, volunteering with rescues or simply sharing advice about the animals in their homes.

Saturday’s event gives those residents a common place to gather while also introducing more people to the work of League City Animal Care.

Saturday Evening on Walker Street

Day of the Dog and Cat runs from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, October 24 at League City Animal Care, 755 W. Walker Street.

Residents interested in adoption can also browse available animals through the City’s website before attending.

For general Animal Care questions, the shelter can be reached at 281-554-1377.

Talk of League City will continue highlighting local events, adoption opportunities and community organizations serving League City residents.

Sources: City of League City Day of the Dog and Cat event calendar; League City Animal Care & Adoption Center; League City adoption and foster resources.