Lancaster Animal Care Center Adoption, Lost Pet & Animal Control Help
Use official Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control resources to check Lancaster shelter adoption hours, view available pets, understand adoption fees, reclaim a lost pet, report field-service concerns, handle licensing and microchip questions, and visit the Lancaster Animal Care Center without relying on outdated third-party pages.
If you are searching for lancaster animal shelter, this page is focused on the Lancaster Animal Care Center in Lancaster, California, operated by Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. Choose the task closest to what you need so you do not mix adoption, lost-pet reclaim, found-pet help, licensing, surrender, and animal control into one wrong visit.
🐶 Adopt a pet — start with official LA County DACC listings
Use this for: dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, and other animals available through LA County Animal Care & Control at the Lancaster Animal Care Center.
Best official path: view animals on the official DACC adoption page, then visit Lancaster during public hours from Monday through Saturday.
Before you go: confirm the animal is available, check whether surgery or other hold status applies, and bring ID and a payment method.
Lancaster Animal Shelter Quick Facts Before You Visit
The Lancaster Animal Care Center is part of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. It serves the City of Lancaster and nearby Antelope Valley service areas, including Lancaster unincorporated areas, Quartz Hill, Lake Los Angeles, Lake Elizabeth, and Lake Hughes as listed by DACC.
The public-facing Lancaster center handles adoptions, lost and found pets, pet licensing, general pet assistance, and connection to field services. The most common user mistake is assuming the shelter, animal control officer dispatch, adoption-only Pet Stop, and lost-pet reclaim all follow the same rules. They do not. Use the correct official page before you drive.
What This Lancaster Animal Care Center Guide Covers
Lancaster Animal Care Center Adoption Hours and Public Visit Times
LA County Animal Care and Control lists the Lancaster Animal Care Center public hours as Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Services listed for those hours include adoptions, lost and found, licensing your pet, and general pet assistance.
On Sundays and holidays, the animal care centers have limited services and are closed for public viewing. DACC states that centers continue to admit stray animals to protect animal and public safety, reunite lost pets with families, and process Adoption Partner placements during those limited-service periods.
Public hours: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Use these hours for adoptions, lost and found, licensing, and general pet assistance.
Status: limited services; closed for public viewing.
Do not plan a regular adoption walkthrough on a Sunday or holiday unless DACC posts a special notice.
661-940-4191
Use this number for Lancaster center questions before visiting.
5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536
DACC describes the location as off CA-14, Avenue I exit, west of the freeway when traveling northbound.
How to Adopt a Pet From Lancaster Animal Care Center
Start with the official LA County DACC adoption page and Lancaster center pet listings. Online pet listings help you identify animals, but they are not a guarantee that the animal is still available, ready to go home, or cleared from medical or surgery steps.
Search official DACC animals first
Use the LA County DACC adoption page and Lancaster center animal listings before relying on social media posts, screenshots, or rescue reposts.
Confirm the pet is at Lancaster
LA County has multiple care centers. Make sure the pet is listed for the Lancaster Animal Care Center or another correct DACC location before driving.
Visit Monday through Saturday during public hours
Visit 5210 West Avenue I during the listed public hours of 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for adoption help.
Ask about surgery, health and behavior notes
DACC says animals are only available for adoption once they have been spayed or neutered. Ask whether surgery, health status, vaccination, licensing, or special handling affects pickup timing.
Complete adoption only when the fit is realistic
Ask about energy level, home fit, children, other pets, yard and leash needs, medical notes, adjustment time, and follow-up care before adopting.
Lancaster Animal Shelter Adoption Fees and What May Be Added
LA County DACC’s adoption page explains that adoption fees vary depending on how long an animal has been in care. It lists an adoption fee of $50 when an animal has been in care ten days or less and $30 when an animal has been in care more than ten days. Additional listed charges include sterilization, microchip fee, licensing when required for the adopter’s service area, and possible pain medication depending on surgery status.
Listed DACC fee: $50 if the animal has been in care ten days or less; $30 if more than ten days.
Promotions and discounts may change the final amount, so verify before paying.
Listed DACC fee: $50 for a dog and $40 for a cat.
Animals are only available for adoption once spay/neuter status is handled.
Listed DACC fee: $7.50, not including national chip database registration fee.
All animals adopted from DACC are microchipped before going home.
Additional charges may include license fees for residents in DACC service areas or pain medication depending on whether the animal needed spay/neuter surgery.
Adoption fee reality check
- Confirm the current fee directly with DACC before visiting because promotions can change.
- Ask whether licensing is required for your city or unincorporated area.
- Ask whether the pet is already spayed or neutered and ready to go home.
- Budget for food, crate, leash, litter, toys, preventives, training, grooming, and future veterinary care.
- Use the free veterinary exam eligibility quickly because DACC states adopted animals are eligible within seven days through participating SCVMA veterinarians.
How to View Lancaster Adoptable Pets Online Today
The official Lancaster center page includes a section for animals at the Lancaster Care Center. The DACC adoption page also provides access to animals available through Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control. Use those official pages before relying on third-party pet directories or social media posts.
Online listings are helpful, but they are not a reservation. A pet may be adopted, reclaimed, transferred, moved to foster, still waiting for surgery, or have a status update before you arrive. Save the animal ID, name, location, and listing link so staff can help faster.
Search Official DACC Pets
Start with LA County DACC’s official adoption page and Lancaster center animal listings before acting on copied pet posts.
Official inventory firstConfirm Fit in Person
Ask about behavior, health, adjustment, other pets, children, licensing, and pickup timing before completing adoption.
Better adoption decisionLancaster Lost Pets, Shelter Search and Reclaim Help
If your pet is missing in Lancaster or nearby DACC service areas, act quickly. Search the official DACC lost-pet resources, check the Lancaster center, update your microchip contact information, post clear photos locally, and visit in person if a listing looks even close to your pet.
Use DACC’s lost-pet page and Lancaster center resources first. Third-party posts can be delayed or incomplete.
Photos are not always clear. Visit the Lancaster Animal Care Center during public hours if there is any possible match.
Bring photo ID, recent pet photos, vet records, license information, microchip number, adoption paperwork, or other proof of ownership.
DACC emphasizes microchips as permanent identification that helps reunite lost pets with families when contact information is current.
Lost pet steps that actually help
- Search official DACC lost-pet and care center pages repeatedly.
- Update your microchip registry with your current phone number and address.
- Post clear photos in Lancaster and Antelope Valley lost-pet groups.
- Check nearby care centers if the pet may have crossed jurisdiction lines.
- Visit in person when a listing is close, even if the photo is not perfect.
Found a Pet in Lancaster: What to Do Before Bringing It In
If you found a pet in Lancaster, first think about safety. DACC’s found-pet guidance says sick, injured, or aggressive animals should be reported for assistance. If the pet is safe to handle, check for collar tags, scan for a microchip, post locally, and contact the local animal care center for the correct next step.
Call DACC for help instead of trying to handle the animal yourself. The DACC found-pet page lists the 24-hour dispatch number as 562-940-6898.
Call or text phone numbers on tags, and have the pet scanned at a DACC care center, veterinary clinic, or pet supply store when safe.
Share a clear photo and the general found location on local social pages, Nextdoor, PawBoost, and other lost-and-found pet tools.
DACC says to call the 24-hour dispatch center for assistance.
Lancaster Animal Control, Field Services and Public Safety Help
LA County DACC provides animal control and shelter services in the Antelope Valley area. DACC animal control officers promote and protect public and animal safety, answer requests for service, and patrol neighborhoods 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the department’s communications centers.
DACC field services include dangerous animal concerns, sick or injured animals, stray dogs, animal cruelty and neglect investigations, animal fighting concerns, public-area deceased animals, and enforcement of animal ordinances.
Use the official DACC service request path when an animal-related issue requires field response from an animal control officer.
DACC officers also respond to emergency calls, including animal evacuation support during wildfires and other natural disasters.
Confirm whether the issue is in the City of Lancaster, unincorporated Los Angeles County, or another city before reporting. Wrong jurisdiction delays response.
Helpful details to include in a field-service report
- Exact location, cross streets, or safe landmark description.
- Animal type, size, color, collar, and behavior.
- Whether the animal is injured, aggressive, loose, confined, or in traffic.
- Owner information if known.
- Photos or videos if they can be taken safely without approaching the animal.
Lancaster Pet Licensing, Rabies Rules and Microchip Help
Los Angeles County DACC explains that all dogs in Los Angeles County must be licensed. In unincorporated areas and most incorporated cities served by DACC, cats must also be licensed with some exceptions. DACC also states that dogs and cats older than four months must be vaccinated against rabies.
All dogs in Los Angeles County must be licensed. Licensing provides identification and helps reunite lost pets with owners.
Cats must also be licensed in unincorporated areas and most incorporated cities served by DACC, with some exceptions. Check the fee schedule and your exact jurisdiction.
Dogs and cats older than four months must be vaccinated against rabies. License applications generally require proof of rabies vaccination.
DACC says Los Angeles County Code requires all dogs and cats to be microchipped. Microchips provide permanent identification that cannot be lost like tags.
Antelope Valley Pet Stop Adoption Center in Lancaster
The City of Lancaster also lists the Antelope Valley Adoption Center, also called Pet Stop, as an adoption-only location. This is separate from the main Lancaster Animal Care Center. Pet Stop is useful for adoption browsing, but users should not confuse it with the full-service DACC Lancaster Animal Shelter.
42116 4th Street East, Lancaster, CA 93535
This is listed by the City of Lancaster as an adoption-only center.
661-974-8309
Use this for Pet Stop adoption-only questions.
Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday: noon to 4:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays and holidays.
For lost and found, licensing, shelter assistance, or field-service questions, use the main Lancaster Animal Care Center and DACC resources.
Lancaster Pet Surrender, Rehoming and Owner Support Options
DACC states that when surrender feels like the only option, the department encourages owners to review resources that may help keep a pet at home, rehome the pet, or connect with a local rescue. This is not soft advice; it is practical. Shelter surrender can be stressful for pets and uses limited public shelter space.
DACC currently states that appointments are no longer required to surrender, and owners can visit a local DACC Animal Care Center during business hours.
Use trusted family, friends, direct rehoming, breed rescues, local rescues, and DACC rehome resources when safe.
If surrender is unavoidable, bring vet records, vaccine records, microchip details, behavior notes, medications, and an honest history.
Abandonment creates danger for the animal and community. Use official resources instead of leaving a pet outside, in a park, or at a business.
Official Lancaster Animal Shelter, Adoption and Animal Control Links
Use these official resources first. This protects users from old hours, wrong addresses, copied pet listings, outdated adoption fee claims, and private pages that do not control LA County Animal Care and Control operations.
🏠 Lancaster Animal Care Center
Official DACC page with address, phone, email, hours, services, directions, service area, and Lancaster center details.
Open Lancaster Center🐾 Adopt a Pet
Official LA County DACC adoption page with adoption process, fees, surgery notes, and available pet guidance.
Open Adoption Info🔎 View Animals
Start here to view animals available through LA County Animal Care and Control.
View Our Animals🔎 Lost a Pet
Official DACC lost-pet resource for searching and reclaim planning.
Open Lost Pet Help🐕 Found a Pet
Official DACC found-pet guidance for dogs, cats, microchip scanning, and dispatch routing.
Open Found Pet Help🚨 Field Services
Official animal control field-service duties and online service request path.
Open Field Services🏷️ Pet Licensing
Official dog and cat licensing, rabies vaccination, and license purchase information.
Open Licensing🧬 Microchips
Official microchip guidance, permanent identification details, and clinic schedule link.
Open Microchipping🏛️ City of Lancaster Animal Care
City page explaining LA County DACC contract services and Antelope Valley adoption resources.
Open City ResourcePhone, email and contact details
661-940-4191
acclancaster@animalcare.lacounty.gov
562-940-6898, listed by DACC for found-pet assistance and 24-hour dispatch support.
LA County DACC Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536.
Lancaster Animal Shelter Map and Visit Location
The official Lancaster Animal Care Center is located at 5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536. Use this address for adoption visits, lost-and-found help, licensing, general pet assistance, and public shelter service needs. Check official DACC hours before visiting because Sundays and holidays are limited-service days and closed for public viewing.
LA County DACC Lancaster Animal Care Center
Address: 5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536
Lancaster Animal Shelter FAQs
What are Lancaster Animal Shelter adoption hours in 2026?
LA County DACC lists Lancaster Animal Care Center hours as Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays and holidays are limited-service days and closed for public viewing.
Where is Lancaster Animal Care Center located?
The Lancaster Animal Care Center is located at 5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536.
What is the Lancaster Animal Shelter phone number?
The main Lancaster Animal Care Center phone number listed by LA County DACC is 661-940-4191.
What services does the Lancaster Animal Care Center provide?
LA County DACC lists services including adoptions, lost and found, licensing your pet, and general pet assistance. DACC also provides field services through animal control officers.
How much are adoption fees at LA County DACC?
DACC lists a $50 adoption fee for animals in care ten days or less and $30 for animals in care more than ten days. Additional charges may include sterilization, microchip, licensing, and pain medication depending on the pet and adopter’s service area.
Do Lancaster DACC adopted pets come microchipped?
Yes. DACC states that all animals adopted from DACC are microchipped before going home with their new family. The adoption page lists a microchip fee separately from any national database registration fee.
Are pets spayed or neutered before adoption?
DACC says animals are only available for adoption once they have been spayed or neutered. In exceptional cases, a trust deposit may be arranged when surgery is not advisable at that time.
What should I do if I lost a pet in Lancaster?
Search official DACC lost-pet resources, check the Lancaster center, update your microchip registry, post clear photos locally, and visit in person if a listing looks like your pet.
What should I do if I found an injured or aggressive pet in Lancaster?
DACC’s found-pet guidance says sick, injured, or aggressive animals should be reported for help. The page lists 562-940-6898 for assistance and 24-hour dispatch support.
Does animal control serve Lancaster, CA?
Yes. The City of Lancaster states that Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control provides animal control and shelter services in the Antelope Valley area, including licensing, microchip registration, adoptions, dead animal removal, and enforcement services.
Do dogs and cats need licenses in Lancaster?
LA County DACC states that all dogs in Los Angeles County must be licensed. Cats must also be licensed in unincorporated areas and most incorporated cities served by DACC, with some exceptions. Check the current DACC license fee schedule for your exact jurisdiction.
Is Antelope Valley Pet Stop the same as Lancaster Animal Care Center?
No. The City of Lancaster lists Antelope Valley Adoption Center, also called Pet Stop, as an adoption-only location at 42116 4th Street East. The main Lancaster Animal Care Center is at 5210 West Avenue I and handles broader DACC shelter services.
Can I surrender a pet to Lancaster Animal Care Center?
DACC says surrender appointments are no longer required and owners can visit a local DACC Animal Care Center during business hours. However, DACC strongly encourages reviewing rehoming and support resources first because surrender can be stressful for pets.
Best Way to Use Lancaster Animal Care Center in 2026
The best path is simple: use official LA County DACC pages first, confirm the pet or service is tied to the Lancaster Animal Care Center, check current public hours, save the animal ID if adopting, bring proper documents if reclaiming, and use the field-service request path for animal control concerns.
For the focus keyword lancaster animal shelter, this guide covers the full user intent: adoption hours, official address, phone, email, pet listings, adoption fees, spay/neuter, microchips, lost pets, found pets, animal control, licensing, Pet Stop adoption-only center, map, official links, and practical visit steps for Lancaster, California.
Important Notice: This article is an independent informational guide and is not Los Angeles County, LA County Animal Care and Control, the City of Lancaster, an animal control agency, a veterinarian, or a legal authority. Adoption availability, shelter hours, fees, pet licensing rules, microchip clinic access, public viewing, surrender procedures, holiday schedules, animal control response, and field-service routing can change. Always verify urgent or official matters directly with LA County DACC, the City of Lancaster, or the appropriate emergency authority before acting.