Sacramento County Bradshaw Animal Shelter & Adoption 2026
Use this Bradshaw Animal Shelter dashboard to adopt a pet, check public hours, call the right number, report lost/found animals, review adoption fees, understand license fees, and avoid common Sacramento County animal-service mistakes.
Verified rule: adoptions are in-person only at 3839 Bradshaw Road, lists update often but may not show real-time availability, and adoption processing stops 30 minutes before closing.
Official source checked
Last verified: August 12, 2026. This page uses Sacramento County Animal Care Services official pages for hours, contact, fees, lost/found, licensing, animal reporting and adoption process.
Jurisdiction matters
Bradshaw serves Sacramento County Animal Care routes. City shelters and neighboring cities may use different phone numbers and surrender/lost-pet rules.
No fake details
No fake ratings, no fake reviews, no unverified staff names, no fake “open now” claim, and no BreadcrumbList schema inside this Custom HTML.
Choose What You Need
- Clickable action cards
- Who to call first
- Shelter and intake hours
- Adoption and license fees
- Adoption micro-steps
- Lost/found pet route
- Lost pet scam warning
- Owner surrender rules
- Pet licensing rules
- Bites and animal issues
- Community cats, rabbits and barn cats
- Foster, volunteer and support
- Call scripts
- Map
- Official links
- 10 FAQs
Clickable Bradshaw Animal Help Cards
Tap the matching action. Each card uses the official route or the safest next step.
Who to Call First
Use this before driving to Bradshaw, handling a found pet, or paying anyone by phone.
| Situation | Call / click | What to say | Next micro-step |
|---|---|---|---|
| General shelter questions | 916-368-7387 or 311 | “I need help with [adoption/lost pet/intake/licensing].” | Ask which office, option or form applies. |
| Speak to a live operator | 311 or 916-875-4311 | “I need Sacramento County Animal Care Services help.” | Use for non-emergency inquiries. |
| Lost or found pet support | 916-875-LOST | “My pet is lost/found near [cross streets]. Can you help me search and register?” | Email BradshawLostAndFound@saccounty.net if needed. |
| Bite to a human | 916-368-7387, Option 2 | “I need to report a bite to a human.” | Operators are listed as available 24/7. |
| Stray, cruelty, neglected animal, too many animals, barking | 916-368-7387, Option 3 | “I need to report [issue] at [address].” | Operators are listed Monday-Friday 7am-7pm. |
| Pet licensing question | countyanimalcare@saccounty.net | “I live in [area] and need licensing help.” | Confirm whether County licensing serves your address. |
Sacramento County Bradshaw Shelter Hours
Bradshaw has public shelter hours and separate animal intake hours. Adoption processing also has a cutoff.
| Day | Shelter hours | Animal intake hours | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | Closed | Also closed on holidays. |
| Tuesday | Noon-5pm | Noon-4pm | Adoption processing stops 30 minutes before closing. |
| Wednesday | Noon-6pm | Noon-5:30pm | Extended public and intake hours. |
| Thursday | Noon-5pm | Noon-4pm | Adoptions are in-person only. |
| Friday | Noon-5pm | Noon-4pm | Check online listings before arrival. |
| Saturday | Noon-5pm | Noon-4pm | Arrive early for adoption counseling. |
| Sunday | Noon-5pm | Noon-4pm | Last regular weekend public day before Monday closure. |
Adoption, Licensing and Common Service Fees
These official fees make the page more useful than a generic directory listing. Specials can change without notice, so verify before paying.
| Fee type | Official amount | Useful detail | Ask before visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat adoption | $81 | Adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, microchip and initial immunizations. | Ask if the cat is altered and ready to go home. |
| Male dog adoption | $121 | Adoption includes spay/neuter, microchip and initial immunizations. | Ask about surgery timing and license fee. |
| Female dog adoption | $147 | Adoption includes spay/neuter, microchip and initial immunizations. | Ask about surgery/pickup if not already altered. |
| Senior for Senior dog/cat | $25 | Senior owner and senior pet. | Confirm eligibility and current availability. |
| Rabbits | $45 | Rabbit adoption option listed on fee schedule. | Ask about housing, diet and spay/neuter status. |
| Rodents / fowl | $5 | Low-cost small animal adoption category. | Ask if supplies or special care are required. |
| Exotic / livestock | Market value | Fee varies. | Call before visiting for exact animal and fee. |
| Owner surrender | $50 | Routine owner surrenders are not accepted; case-by-case review applies. | Ask if your situation qualifies before driving. |
| Owner surrender litter | $65 | Listed in fee schedule. | Confirm intake eligibility and timing. |
Adoption Micro-Steps
Bradshaw adoption is first-come, first-served and in-person. Use these steps before you drive.
View pets online first
Open the official Adoptable Animals page. Dog, cat and other animal lists update every 30 minutes but may not reflect real-time availability.
Check home fit
Review size, temperament and home requirements. Renters should confirm landlord or HOA permission before visiting.
Visit in person
Adoptions are in-person only at 3839 Bradshaw Rd. The shelter cannot hold animals by phone/email or ship pets.
Bring household members
Bring kids or key household decision-makers to meet the pet when appropriate.
Meet with staff
Adoption counseling includes paperwork, fees and matching questions. You must be at least 18 to adopt.
Spay/neuter and pickup
If already altered, the pet may go home the same day. If not, surgery is scheduled before pickup.
Lost or Found Pet in Sacramento County
Lost/found success usually requires multiple actions on the same day.
If your pet is lost
- Search Bradshaw Shelter lost pets online and in person.
- Register your pet on 24Petconnect.
- Post on Petco Love Lost.
- Post flyers and yard signs near the lost location.
- Share on Facebook lost/found pet pages and Nextdoor.
- Contact nearby local shelters and veterinarians.
- Call 916-875-LOST (5678) or email BradshawLostAndFound@saccounty.gov.
If you found a pet
- Complete the official Found Animal Form through the County lost/found page.
- Register the found pet on Petco Love Lost, 24Petconnect, PawBoost and Nextdoor.
- Notify local shelters and veterinarians.
- Post flyers and social posts with clear photos and location.
- Call 311 to confirm shelter jurisdiction before bringing the animal in.
- If the animal is injured, take it to a veterinarian or 24-hour emergency hospital.
- Do not assume finding a pet makes you the owner; follow the correct jurisdiction process.
Lost Pet Phone Scam Warning
This is an important trust and safety section because Bradshaw has a specific official scam warning.
Do not pay by phone
Bradshaw says it will never call pet owners to request money for surgery and will never ask for financial information over the phone.
Verify the Animal ID
Legitimate shelter staff may provide an Animal ID beginning with “A” followed by six digits. Verify by calling 311 or 916-875-4311.
Report suspicious calls
The official warning says suspicious lost-pet payment demands can be reported to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s non-emergency line at 916-874-5115.
Owner Surrender: Read This Before Driving
This is where many old directory pages mislead users. Bradshaw’s fee schedule and guidance are very clear that routine owner surrenders are not automatically accepted.
No routine owner surrender
Sacramento County Animal Care Services says it does not accept routine owner surrenders.
Case-by-case review
Requests are reviewed depending on space and circumstances. Call or check guidance before bringing an owned pet.
Listed fees
The fee schedule lists Owner Surrender at $50 and Owner Surrender Litter at $65, but eligibility must be reviewed first.
Sacramento County Pet Licensing
Sacramento County Animal Care provides pet licensing for residents of the unincorporated area of Sacramento County.
| License type | Official fee | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| Altered dog/cat – 1 year | $15 | For unincorporated Sacramento County licensing route. |
| Altered dog/cat – 2 year | $30 | Keep rabies information current. |
| Altered dog/cat – 3 year | $40 | Longer-term option. |
| Unaltered dog/cat – 1 year | $50 | Higher fee. |
| Unaltered dog/cat – 2 year | $100 | Higher fee. |
| Unaltered dog/cat – 3 year | $150 | Higher fee. |
| Senior citizen altered license – 1 year | $10 | Senior discount listed for age 62 and older. |
| Senior citizen altered license – 2 year | $20 | Senior discount listed for age 62 and older. |
| Senior citizen altered license – 3 year | $25 | Senior discount listed for age 62 and older. |
| Late license penalty | $25 | Unincorporated late penalty. |
| Duplicate license tag | $5 | Listed tag replacement fee. |
Report Bites, Strays, Cruelty and Other Animal Issues
Use the correct phone option so your issue routes faster.
| Issue | Official route | Operator hours | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bite to a human | 916-368-7387, select Option 2 | Operators available 24/7 | Victim info, animal description, address/location, owner details if known. |
| Stray animals | 916-368-7387, select Option 3 | Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm | Exact location, animal description, safety concerns. |
| Cruelty or neglected animal | 916-368-7387, select Option 3 | Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm | Address, photos if safe/legal, dates, facts, animal condition. |
| Too many animals or barking complaint | 916-368-7387, select Option 3 | Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm | Address, pattern, dates/times, witness details. |
Community Cats, Rabbits and Barn/Garden Cats
These programs make the page more complete for Sacramento County users who are not just looking for dogs and cats.
Community Cat Program
Bradshaw and Community Spay/Neuter Clinic partner on a no-cost community cat program. Official guidance says to call CSN at 916-368-7314 on the first Monday of each month at 7am for the following month’s appointments.
Rabbits
Bradshaw lists rabbits as adoptable animals and includes a rabbit adoption fee category. The shelter also links to Friends of Unwanted Rabbits for bunny adoption support.
Barn & garden cats
Bradshaw has a Barn & Garden Cat Adoption route. Official guidance says there is no adoption fee and the team contacts applicants to schedule an appointment.
Support Bradshaw Shelter
Bradshaw is Sacramento County’s main shelter for lost and homeless animals and one of Northern California’s largest shelters.
Volunteer or foster
Fostering and volunteering help animals get care, socialization and time outside the kennel.
Doggy field trips
Bradshaw’s doggy field trip program gives shelter dogs a break from the kennel with a day out in the community.
Donate
Donations help support food, medical care, shelter operations and animal-welfare services.
Before You Leave Home
Pet screenshot, ID, household decision-makers, landlord/HOA proof if renting, payment plan.
Recent photo, microchip number, license tag, collar details, last-seen cross streets.
Found location/time, photos, safe containment, 311 jurisdiction check, found report plan.
Address jurisdiction, rabies information, altered/unaltered status, senior discount eligibility if applicable.
Copy/Paste Call Scripts
Adoption
Hi, I’m interested in adopting from Bradshaw Animal Shelter. Is [animal name/ID] still available, and what should I bring before adoption processing stops?Lost pet
Hi, my [dog/cat/other] is missing near [cross streets]. Description: [color/size/collar/microchip]. Can your Lost & Found Team help me search and register?Found animal
Hi, I found a [dog/cat/other] near [exact location]. I can/cannot safely hold it. Which form should I complete, and which shelter jurisdiction applies?Animal issue
Hi, I need to report [stray/cruelty/barking/too many animals] at [address]. The animal is [description]. Is this the correct Sacramento County Animal Care route?Map: Sacramento County Bradshaw Animal Shelter
Use this map for Bradshaw Shelter visits. For found animals, surrender questions or jurisdiction uncertainty, call first.
Official Sacramento County Animal Links
The important details are already summarized above. Use these official pages for live listings, forms and final verification.
Sacramento County Bradshaw Animal Shelter FAQ
What is the Sacramento County Bradshaw Animal Shelter phone number?
The main phone number listed for Sacramento County Bradshaw Animal Shelter / Animal Care Services is 916-368-7387 (PETS). To speak to a live operator, dial 311 or 916-875-4311.
Where is Bradshaw Animal Shelter located?
Bradshaw Animal Shelter is located at 3839 Bradshaw Road, Sacramento, CA 95827.
What are Bradshaw Animal Shelter public hours?
The shelter is closed Mondays and holidays. It is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 5pm, with Wednesday extended hours from noon to 6pm.
What are Bradshaw Animal Shelter animal intake hours?
Animal intake hours are Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 4pm and Wednesday from noon to 5:30pm.
When does adoption processing stop at Bradshaw?
Bradshaw says adoption processing stops 30 minutes before closing.
Can I hold an animal by phone or email?
No. Bradshaw says animals cannot be held by phone or email, and pets cannot be shipped. Adoptions are in-person only at 3839 Bradshaw Road.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat at Bradshaw?
The official fee schedule lists cat adoption at $81.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog at Bradshaw?
The official fee schedule lists male dog adoption at $121 and female dog adoption at $147.
Who helps with lost and found pets at Bradshaw?
Bradshaw’s Lost & Found Assistance phone is 916-875-LOST (5678), and the listed email is BradshawLostAndFound@saccounty.gov.
Does Sacramento County Animal Care accept routine owner surrenders?
No. Sacramento County Animal Care Services says it does not accept routine owner surrenders. Requests are reviewed case-by-case depending on space and circumstances.
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.