Auburn Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
Searching for “Auburn Animal Shelter” in California usually leads to the Placer County Animal Services Auburn Animal Shelter at 11232 B Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603. This is the county shelter where people adopt pets, search for missing animals, reclaim pets and ask about surrender.
One local detail matters before you make a call: the shelter and City of Auburn Animal Control are not the same service. Inside incorporated Auburn, Animal Control enforcement is handled through the Auburn Police Department. That distinction can save valuable time when an animal is loose, injured, aggressive or involved in a bite.
Verified September 23, 2026
Shelter address, hours, phone routing, Animal Control jurisdiction, city dog-license fees, county after-hours contact, 2026 service fees and current adoption promotion were rechecked against Placer County and City of Auburn sources.
Auburn city rules are different
Placer County specifically says Auburn city limits handle their own animal licensing and Animal Control enforcement. Do not automatically use county dog-license prices if you live inside incorporated Auburn.
Independent guide
Animal-Shelter.org is not Placer County Animal Services, the Auburn Police Department, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, a veterinary clinic or an emergency-dispatch service.
Choose the Right Auburn Animal Help Route
Auburn has a county shelter and a city Animal Control operation. Pick the route that matches what is actually happening.
Auburn Animal Shelter Hours 2026
The office opens before the public kennels. If your goal is adoption, the kennel schedule and 30-minute adoption cutoff are the details that matter most.
| Service | Current hours | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Shelter office |
Monday–Saturday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
General front-office services. |
| Public kennels |
Monday–Saturday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
Use these hours when coming to meet adoptable animals. |
| Adoption processing | Stops 30 minutes before closing | Do not arrive at 4:55 p.m. expecting to begin an adoption. |
| Sunday | Closed | Shelter office and kennels are closed to normal public service. |
| County holidays | Closed | Verify holiday timing before a long drive. |
How to Adopt From Auburn Animal Shelter
The county’s process is straightforward, but preparing before you arrive gives you more time to focus on whether a pet actually fits your home—not just whether you love the photo.
Browse the official pet listings
Check Placer County’s current dogs, cats and other adoptable animals. Save the pet name or animal ID and choose a backup pet in case availability changes.
Make sure you are at least 18
Placer County says adopters must be at least 18 years old and provide photo identification.
Complete the adoption questionnaire
The county uses an Adoption Questionnaire to help staff understand the household and adoption plan.
Meet the pet and ask practical questions
Ask about behavior, energy level, known medical issues, children, other pets, training, exercise needs and first-week adjustment.
Consider a dog-to-dog meet and greet
Placer County says adopters may request a meet and greet and bring an existing dog to meet the dog they are considering.
Complete payment and plan the ride home
Bring a safe carrier for a cat or small pet and a secure leash / vehicle plan for a dog. Confirm any current special before paying.
Auburn Adoption Special: September & October 2026
This is a date-specific 2026 promotion, not a permanent adoption fee. After the promotion ends, use Placer County’s current Animal Services fee schedule rather than relying on an old screenshot or social post.
Auburn Shelter Fees: What Is Current in FY 2026–27
Placer County updates its Animal Services fee schedule each July. Adoption promotions can temporarily replace standard adoption prices, so the amount you pay on a specific day may differ from an older fee sheet.
| Fee / service | Current verified amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Owner release / surrender at the center | $173 | FY 2026–27 county fee for an owner release at the center for an animal over four months old. |
| Microchip | $40 | Listed in the FY 2026–27 Animal Services fee schedule. Confirm public applicability for your specific service. |
| FeLV / FIV test | $33 | Listed Animal Services charge in the current county fee schedule. |
| Heartworm test | $33 | Current Animal Services fee-schedule amount. |
| DA2PP / DHLPP vaccine | $11 | Current Animal Services fee-schedule amount. |
| FVRCP vaccine | $11 | Current Animal Services fee-schedule amount. |
What Medical Care Is Included With Adoption?
An adoption fee is not simply a purchase price. Placer County includes significant preventive and medical care before dogs and cats leave the shelter.
Dog adoption care
- Deworming.
- Distemper / Parvo and Bordetella vaccination.
- Flea and tick preventive.
- Heartworm test for dogs over six months.
- Microchip.
- Monthly heartworm preventive listed by the county.
- Rabies vaccination if the dog is over four months.
- Spay or neuter.
Cat adoption care
- Deworming.
- Feline AIDS / leukemia test.
- First FVRCP vaccination.
- Microchip.
- Rabies vaccination if the cat is over four months.
- Spay or neuter.
Lost or Found Pet in Auburn / Placer County
A lost-pet search is emotional and time-sensitive. The county recommends combining shelter checks with physical neighborhood searching rather than relying on one website.
If your pet is missing
- Call the Auburn shelter pet line at 530-886-5541 .
- Check Placer County’s incoming stray listings repeatedly.
- Fill out a lost-pet report and check shelter lost/found records.
- Update your microchip registry with a current phone number.
- Search the immediate neighborhood, garages, decks, sheds, brush, creek edges and quiet hiding areas.
- Contact nearby veterinarians and surrounding shelters.
- Bring photos, veterinary records, license information and microchip details if you see a possible match.
If you found a pet
- Safely check for an ID tag or license.
- Ask a shelter or veterinary provider to scan for a microchip when safe.
- Do not move a pet far from the found location without checking the correct jurisdiction.
- Inside Auburn city limits, Animal Control enforcement belongs to Auburn Police.
- For county-jurisdiction animal concerns, call 530-886-5500.
- Never approach an aggressive or severely injured animal if doing so could put you in danger.
Owner Surrender at Auburn Animal Shelter
The official directory specifically routes surrendered-pet questions through the Auburn shelter pet line. Call before transporting an owned animal so staff can explain availability, paperwork and the current process.
Call first
Use 530-886-5541 for surrendered-pet questions. Do not assume same-day intake is automatic.
Current owner-release fee
The FY 2026–27 Placer County Animal Services fee schedule lists $173 per animal for an owner release at the center for animals over four months old.
Bring useful information
Have vaccination, veterinary, medication and behavior records ready. Honest information helps shelter staff plan safer care and placement.
Auburn Animal Control vs Placer County Animal Services
This is the most important location-specific distinction on the page. The shelter’s Auburn mailing address does not mean one field-service number applies everywhere.
Inside Auburn city limits
The City of Auburn Police Department lists Animal Control at 530-823-4237.
Auburn city also manages its own dog licensing. Use the city route for local enforcement and city-license questions.
Placer County Animal Services field route
Where Placer County Animal Services is the correct field authority, the county lists 530-886-5500 for animal concerns and complaints.
The county’s field duties include loose, injured and dead animals on public/county roads, abuse and neglect investigations, barking/stray reports, kennel inspection, bites and rabies exposure.
Emergency & Important Contacts
Each number below is labeled for its actual purpose. Routine animal questions, Animal Control enforcement, police dispatch and immediate emergencies are not interchangeable.
| Contact | Number | Verified purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Auburn Animal Shelter | 530-886-5541 | Adoptable, lost and surrendered pet questions. |
| Placer County Animal Concerns & Complaints | 530-886-5500 | County Animal Services complaints and field-service questions where Placer County has jurisdiction. |
| Placer County After-Hours Animal Emergencies | 530-886-5375 | Official county-listed after-hours animal emergency route. Confirm that Placer County is the applicable jurisdiction. |
| City of Auburn Animal Control | 530-823-4237 | Auburn Police Department Animal Control within city limits. |
| Auburn Police Non-Emergency Dispatch | 530-823-4234 | City police non-emergency dispatch. Do not substitute it for the routine shelter adoption line. |
| Immediate emergency | 911 | Immediate threat to life, serious active attack, fire, medical emergency or crime in progress. |
Animal Bites & Rabies Concerns
Placer County Animal Control Services specifically lists animal-bite investigation and county-wide rabies control among its duties. The appropriate route still depends on where the bite happened.
Report the animal incident
For county Animal Services jurisdiction, use 530-886-5500. Inside Auburn city limits, begin with Auburn Police Animal Control at 530-823-4237.
Human medical care is separate
An Animal Control report does not replace medical evaluation for a person who has been bitten or exposed. Seek appropriate health care based on the injury.
Serious active attack
Use 911 for an immediate life-threatening attack or other emergency requiring rapid police, fire or medical response.
Dog Licensing Inside the City of Auburn
This is another place where Auburn residents can easily use the wrong fee table. Placer County says Auburn city limits handle their own animal licensing.
| Auburn city license | Current city fee | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Altered dog — 1 year | $6 | Current rabies vaccination and proof of spay/neuter for the reduced altered fee. |
| Altered dog — 2 years | $12 | License duration cannot exceed applicable rabies coverage. |
| Unaltered dog — 1 year | $12 | Current rabies documentation required. |
| Unaltered dog — 2 years | $24 | Use Auburn Police Department’s licensing process. |
Veterinary Care at Auburn Animal Shelter
Placer County Animal Services provides veterinary care and prevention for animals in its shelter system. This does not mean the Auburn shelter is a normal walk-in veterinary hospital for privately owned pets.
Vaccination at intake
Dogs receive Bordetella and DA2PPL4-type shelter vaccinations. Cats receive FVRCP vaccination.
Health screening
After the applicable holding period, dogs receive heartworm testing and cats receive FeLV/FIV testing before adoption placement.
Spay / neuter before adoption
Placer County states that animals adopted from its shelters must be spayed or neutered before going home, and that cost is included in the adoption fee.
Placer County Animal Services Leadership
Katie Ingram
Placer County’s current staff directory identifies Katie Ingram as Animal Services Manager.
The directory lists the manager contact as 530-886-5513.
Current shelter veterinarian name
A current publicly listed shelter-veterinarian name was not confirmed from the official 2026 staff directory.
Rather than recycling an old contract veterinarian or guessing, this guide leaves the DVM name out.
Foster, Volunteer, Donate & Doggy Day Out
Adoption is not the only way to help. Placer County maintains several ways for Auburn-area residents to support shelter animals.
Foster a pet
The county provides a foster application and program overview. Approved fosters receive supplies needed to care for shelter animals.
Doggy Day Out
The program lets community members take participating shelter dogs on short outings, giving the dog time away from the kennel and useful enrichment.
Volunteer or donate
Placer County accepts monetary and approved-item donations and maintains an official volunteer application process.
Before You Drive to 11232 B Avenue
Adoption checklist
- Recheck the pet’s official listing before leaving home.
- Bring photo ID and be prepared to complete the questionnaire.
- Arrive well before the 4:30 p.m. adoption-processing cutoff.
- Confirm landlord, lease or HOA pet restrictions if applicable.
- Bring a safe carrier, leash or transport setup.
- Ask what vaccines, medical notes and follow-up care apply.
Lost-pet / reclaim checklist
- Government-issued photo identification.
- Clear photos showing your pet’s markings.
- Microchip information when available.
- License and rabies records.
- Veterinary records or adoption paperwork.
- Secure leash or carrier for transport home.
- Payment method for applicable reclaim, boarding, licensing or medical charges.
Map: Auburn Animal Shelter
Main Placer County Animal Services shelter: 11232 B Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603. The City of Auburn Police Department’s Animal Control operation is a separate service at 1215 Lincoln Way.
Related Animal-Shelter.org Guides
These four existing same-site resources may help when comparing nearby California shelter systems or planning a shelter search. Official Placer County and Auburn sources remain the final authority for this page.
Official Auburn / Placer County Resources
Use these official pages for live animal availability, current fees, holiday changes, forms and enforcement routing.
Auburn Animal Shelter FAQ
Where is Auburn Animal Shelter in California?
Placer County Animal Services’ Auburn Animal Shelter is at 11232 B Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603.
What is the Auburn Animal Shelter phone number?
For adoptable, lost and surrendered pets, the official county directory lists 530-886-5541.
What are Auburn Animal Shelter adoption hours?
Public kennel hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shelter is closed Sunday and county holidays. Adoption processing stops 30 minutes before closing.
What are the shelter office hours?
The Auburn shelter office is listed as open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding county holidays.
Is Auburn Animal Shelter operated by the City of Auburn?
No. The Auburn Animal Shelter is operated by Placer County Animal Services. The City of Auburn separately handles its own Animal Control enforcement and dog licensing.
What is the City of Auburn Animal Control phone number?
The Auburn Police Department directory lists Animal Control at 530-823-4237.
What is Auburn Police non-emergency dispatch?
Auburn Police lists 530-823-4234 for non-emergency police dispatch. Call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.
What is the Placer County after-hours animal emergency number?
Placer County Animal Services lists 530-886-5375 for after-hours animal emergencies where the county is the applicable jurisdiction.
Are there discounted Auburn Animal Shelter adoptions in fall 2026?
Yes. Placer County announced free adoptions at the Auburn shelter on September 26, 2026 and $5 discounted pet adoptions through the end of October 2026. These are temporary promotions.
What is the current owner-surrender fee?
The Placer County FY 2026–27 Animal Services fee schedule lists a $173 owner-release fee at the center for animals over four months old. Call first before transporting an owned pet.
What medical care is included with an adopted pet?
Placer County states that adopted pets are spayed or neutered, microchipped and receive applicable shelter vaccinations and preventive care. Dogs may also receive heartworm testing and cats receive FeLV/FIV testing as described on the county’s health-care page.
Does Auburn Animal Shelter have a public veterinary clinic?
The shelter has veterinary capability for animals in its care, but the current official pages do not present it as a normal walk-in community veterinary hospital with public exam appointments.
Who manages Placer County Animal Services?
The current Placer County staff directory identifies Katie Ingram as Animal Services Manager.
How much is an Auburn city dog license?
The current City of Auburn page lists an altered dog at $6 for one year or $12 for two years, and an unaltered dog at $12 for one year or $24 for two years. Current rabies documentation is required.
Is Animal-Shelter.org the official Auburn Animal Shelter website?
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent informational guide. Placer County and the City of Auburn control the official live hours, fees, animal availability, enforcement and emergency 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.