Maricopa Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours, Fees, Lost Pets, Surrender Help & Map
Most people searching “Maricopa Animal Shelter” are looking for Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, also called MCACC or Maricopa Pets. This guide gives you the official shelter locations, phone number, adoption hours, fees, lost-pet steps, surrender rules, animal-control routing, video guide, maps and official links.
Adoption hours 11 AM–7 PM daily
Main shelters Phoenix West · Mesa East · Scottsdale PetSmart
Quick Answer: Which Maricopa animal shelter should you contact?
For most countywide animal-shelter searches, contact Maricopa County Animal Care & Control at 602-506-7387. MCACC operates the West Valley Animal Care Center in Phoenix, the East Valley Animal Care Center in Mesa, and the Everyday Adoption Center at PetSmart in Scottsdale.
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Maricopa County Animal Shelter locations and hours
MCACC lists three public-facing animal care/adoption locations. The West and East shelters handle adoption services plus intake and other services. The Scottsdale PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center is adoption-only.
| Location | Address | Hours listed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Valley Animal Care Center | 2500 S. 27th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009 | Adoptions 11 AM–7 PM daily; intakes/other services 12 PM–6 PM daily | Adoption, lost dog search, stray dog intake appointments, county shelter services. |
| East Valley Animal Care Center | 1920 S. Lewis, Mesa, AZ 85210 | Adoptions 11 AM–7 PM daily; intakes/other services 12 PM–6 PM daily | Adoption, lost dog search, stray dog intake appointments, county shelter services. |
| PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center | 4380 N. Miller Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 | Adoptions 11 AM–7 PM daily | Adoptions only. Do not use this location for intake or lost-pet service needs. |
Video Guide: Watch before adopting from Maricopa County Animal Care & Control
Users searching for Maricopa Animal Shelter often want to know what adoption looks like before visiting. MCACC has an official Maricopa Pets YouTube presence, and this embedded video is included because it matches the adoption intent: learning why the shelter needs adopters and how adopting a county shelter dog can help.
Maricopa Animal Shelter adoption process: step-by-step
MCACC’s adoption process is built around searching available pets, writing down the animal’s A-number, visiting the correct location, meeting the pet, and completing the adoption in person. The shelter says its population changes every few minutes, so you should check the website shortly before going.
Use MCACC’s official pet search and write down the A-number for each dog or cat you want to meet.
Animal availability changes quickly. Recheck about an hour before visiting so you do not drive for a pet that is no longer available.
Check whether the pet is at West, East or the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center. Going to the wrong location wastes valuable adoption time.
Adoptions take time. Do not arrive close to closing if you need to meet a pet and finish paperwork.
MCACC says personal pets are not permitted in the shelters and animal-animal meet-and-greets are not conducted.
Bring a valid form of ID. Plan a safe vehicle setup before adopting; animals must be transported safely inside a vehicle.
Maricopa Animal Shelter adoption fees
MCACC publishes standard adoption fees plus adjusted fees and special cases. Promotions may reduce or waive fees, and priority-placement pets may have sponsored fees. Confirm the exact amount before adoption day.
| Pet type or situation | Fee listed by MCACC | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Large dogs over 25 lbs | $50 standard | Ask about energy level, shelter length, behavior notes and any medical considerations. |
| Small dogs 25 lbs and under | $250 standard | Small dogs can move fast. Check availability before driving. |
| Senior dogs over 8 years old | $25 standard | Ask about medication, mobility, dental issues and realistic long-term costs. |
| Puppies under 6 months | $300 standard | Ask about vaccine timing, training needs and expected adult size if known. |
| Cats | $50 standard | Ask about litter habits, temperament, age and whether the cat is at a shelter or adoption event. |
| Kittens under 6 months | $200 standard | Ask if the kitten is ready to leave or waiting for medical clearance. |
| Large dogs at MCACC 30–90 days | $25 | Good option for adopters open to overlooked dogs. |
| Large dogs 90+ days / senior dogs 30+ days / Priority Placement Portal dogs | Sponsored in listed cases | Ask why the pet is sponsored and what support or behavior notes are available. |
Before you visit: adoption checklist for Maricopa shelters
Lost pet in Maricopa County: what to do in the first 24 hours
Lost-pet intent is urgent. MCACC says it cannot reliably tell every owner by phone or email whether a pet is in care because of the large volume of animals. The official advice is to physically visit both East and West Animal Care Centers every two days and use online search tools.
MCACC recommends Petco Love Lost’s facial-recognition system for lost and found pet reporting.
Contact your microchip company. If you do not know the registry, use the AAHA microchip lookup.
MCACC encourages owners to come to West Phoenix and East Mesa to search in person.
Online tools help, but they should not replace in-person checking.
Use flyers, neighbors, vets, Nextdoor, local Facebook lost-pet groups and Lost Dogs Arizona.
MCACC says it will not ask for money by phone to retrieve a lost pet. Be careful with people demanding payment without proof.
Found a pet in Maricopa County: safe next steps
If you found a dog or cat, do not assume the pet was abandoned. MCACC says found pets should be reported, scanned for a microchip and documented so owners have a chance to find them.
Surrendering a pet to Maricopa County Animal Care & Control
MCACC says owner surrender is by appointment only for Maricopa County residents. Surrender should be a last resort after reviewing rehoming, support, behavioral, housing, food, medical and temporary-care resources.
Animal control, bites, cruelty, emergencies and City of Maricopa confusion
“Maricopa animal control” can mean different agencies depending on whether you mean Maricopa County or the City of Maricopa. For shelter adoptions, lost dogs, found pets and surrender, MCACC is the main county shelter system. For city-specific enforcement questions, use the local municipal animal-control route.
Dog licensing, microchips, vaccines and pet-support resources
MCACC offers more than adoption. It also lists dog licensing, microchipping, vaccination resources, spay/neuter resources, behavior support, medical resources, housing/foster resources and rehoming help.
Call scripts for common Maricopa Animal Shelter needs
Use a short script when calling. It helps staff route your question faster.
Adoption script: “Hi, I’m interested in animal A-number [A-number]. Is the pet still available, which location is the pet at, and what should I bring if I come today?”
Lost pet script: “Hi, my dog is missing near [cross streets]. The dog is [color/size/breed], has [microchip/collar/license], and I can visit West and East. What is the best current search process?”
Found pet script: “Hi, I found a dog near [location]. I can safely hold it for [time]. I need a microchip scan or intake appointment. What should I do next?”
Surrender script: “Hi, I live in Maricopa County and need help avoiding surrender if possible. My pet is [age/species], and the issue is [behavior/housing/medical/cost]. What resources or appointments are available?”
Map: West Valley Animal Care Center
The West Valley Animal Care Center is at 2500 S. 27th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009. Use this map for the main West shelter route and always confirm service hours before driving.
Map: East Valley Animal Care Center
The East Valley Animal Care Center is at 1920 S. Lewis, Mesa, AZ 85210. This is the better route for many East Valley users.
Official Maricopa animal shelter links
Common mistakes to avoid
Maricopa Animal Shelter FAQs
For Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, call 602-506-7387.
MCACC has West Valley Animal Care Center at 2500 S. 27th Avenue in Phoenix, East Valley Animal Care Center at 1920 S. Lewis in Mesa, and an adoption-only PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center at 4380 N. Miller Rd. in Scottsdale.
MCACC lists adoption services as 11 AM–7 PM daily. West and East shelters list intake and other services as 12 PM–6 PM daily.
Standard fees listed by MCACC include $50 for large dogs, $250 for small dogs, $25 for senior dogs, $300 for puppies, $50 for cats and $200 for kittens. Specials and sponsored fees may change the amount.
MCACC says all adoptions include spay/neuter, microchip and age-appropriate vaccines. Dog adoptions may include rabies vaccine and county dog license/tag for dogs 3 months and older.
No. MCACC says personal pets are not permitted in the shelters and animal-animal meet-and-greets are not conducted.
Report the pet on Petco Love Lost, check the microchip, use the Stray Map Tool, and physically visit both West and East shelters every two days.
MCACC states animals brought in without identification may be kept for 72 hours as stray-hold. After 72 hours, the animal may become available for adoption.
MCACC states it does not impound lost or stray cats. You can still report a cat on Petco Love Lost and use community-cat resources.
Owner surrender is by appointment only for Maricopa County residents. MCACC lists a $75 surrender fee per pet and does not accept owned, stray or community cats.
Yes. MCACC lists microchips for $25 at the East and West shelter locations during regular business hours.
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent directory guide. Use Maricopa County’s official website for current adoption, intake, fee, lost-pet and animal-control information.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.