Bonita Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
Bonita Animal Shelter is officially the South County Animal Shelter, operated by the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services at 5821 Sweetwater Road, Bonita, CA 91902.
If you are coming to adopt, one timing detail matters: the shelter itself is open 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday, but adoptions close at 4:30 p.m.. Wednesday and County holidays are closed. Arriving at 5:15 p.m. is therefore too late to start an adoption.
Checked September 19, 2026
Shelter address, public hours, adoption cutoff, adoption fees, 24/7 emergency routing, licensing, clinic prices, owner-relinquishment status, rabies contacts and Santee transition status were checked against current County sources.
County-operated shelter
This facility is operated by the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. It is not a private humane society or an independent rescue.
Independent guide
Animal-Shelter.org is not San Diego County Animal Services, emergency dispatch, Public Health, a veterinary hospital or the South County Animal Shelter.
Choose the Right Bonita / County Animal Services Route
Adoption, routine questions and emergency field response do not use the same phone route. Start with what you actually need.
Bonita Animal Shelter Adoption Hours 2026
The facility stays open one hour later than the adoption cutoff. That difference is easy to miss and can turn a long South County drive into a wasted trip.
| Day / Service | Current timing | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday–Tuesday | 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | Current public shelter hours. |
| Adoption processing | Closes 4:30 p.m. | Arrive well before 4:30 if you want time to meet an animal, complete paperwork and arrange transport. |
| Wednesday | Closed | Do not plan a routine public shelter visit. |
| County holidays | Closed | Check the official County page before a holiday trip. |
How to Adopt From Bonita South County Animal Shelter
The easiest visit starts at home. County Animal Services specifically encourages people to search online first and bring identifying information for the animals they like.
Search South Shelter animals online
Select South Shelter in the County’s pet search. Write down the animal ID, kennel and tag information.
Pick more than one possible pet
County Animal Services recommends making one, two or three choices because pets are generally adopted first come, first served.
Check whether the pet is in foster
A kennel code such as SFOST means the animal is in foster rather than physically at the South Shelter. Email the placement team to arrange a meeting.
Bring current picture identification
The County’s current adoption application requires prospective adopters to be at least 18 and present current photo identification showing age and address.
Meet the animal and complete the application
If your choice is still available, shelter staff provide the application and next-step instructions.
Bring safe transport
Bring a leash and collar for a dog or a secure crate for cats and smaller animals. The County also sells inexpensive leashes and crates at the shelter.
Popular Puppies, Kittens & Other High-Interest Pets
For certain highly requested animals, County Animal Services uses an opportunity drawing instead of ordinary first-come processing.
Arrive 9:30–9:45 a.m.
Interested families are directed to arrive during this 15-minute window on the animal’s available date.
One ticket per animal, per family
County Animal Services uses opportunity-drawing tickets to give interested families an equal chance.
Drawing at 9:45 a.m.
Shelter staff announce the randomly selected ticket number for each high-interest animal.
Bonita / San Diego County Adoption Fees
These are the regular adoption fees currently published by San Diego County Animal Services. Promotions and fee-waived categories can change, so confirm the specific animal’s fee before checkout.
| Animal / adopter category | Current published fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dog | $85 | Standard adult-dog adoption category. |
| Puppy — 6 months or younger | $150 | Higher puppy fee. |
| Cat | $75 | Standard adult-cat category. |
| Kitten — 6 months or younger | $100 | Current kitten category. |
| Senior animal — 5 years or older | $50 | Applies to the County’s senior-animal category. |
| Super senior — 8 years or older | Free | Current County fee schedule lists no adoption fee. |
| Adopter age 60+ | Free | County lists adoption by a senior citizen age 60+ as fee-free. |
| Animal available more than 30 days | Free | Current fee schedule lists these long-stay animals as fee-free. |
| Rabbit | $30 | Exotic and bird fees vary; ask the shelter. |
What the Adoption Fee Includes
Spay / neuter
The County says adoption fees include required alteration or a refundable spay/neuter voucher when applicable.
Vaccinations & medical services
Vaccinations and other medical services are included in the County adoption package.
Microchip
The County states that the adopted pet will be microchipped before going home.
One-year dog license
A one-year dog license is included when the adopted dog will live within the County Animal Services licensing area.
Safe transport still matters
Plan for a leash/collar or secure crate. Do not assume a nervous shelter pet can safely travel loose.
Ask what applies to your pet
Species, age, health status and sterilization timing can change what happens before pickup.
Emergency & Important Bonita / County Contacts
The 24/7 County emergency number only applies where San Diego County Department of Animal Services has jurisdiction. Do not use it automatically for every incorporated city.
| Contact | Number / route | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| South County / Bonita Shelter | 619-767-2675 | Non-emergency County Animal Services business, shelter, adoption and routine service questions. |
| County Animal Services 24/7 emergency | 619-236-2341 | Animal-related emergency occurring right now within County Animal Services jurisdiction: injured/sick animal, cruelty, aggressive animal or animal bite to a person. |
| Human life-threatening emergency | 911 | Any immediate threat to human life. |
| San Diego County Epidemiology Unit | 619-692-8499 | Human rabies-exposure / PEP guidance and questions involving potential rabies exposure. |
Important: Bonita Shelter Does Not Mean “All San Diego County”
The physical shelter is in Bonita, but County Animal Services’ field-service jurisdiction is primarily the unincorporated areas of San Diego County. City boundaries matter.
County Animal Services route
Use the County’s agency-by-ZIP lookup when you are not sure which Animal Control agency handles the incident address.
The 24/7 emergency number on this page should be treated as the County/unincorporated route—not a universal San Diego County dispatch number.
Cities using other agencies
The County’s current shelter page specifically says it no longer provides animal services for Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Santee, San Diego or Solana Beach.
Other incorporated cities in the region may also have their own municipal or contracted Animal Control agency.
Lost or Found Pet Near Bonita / South County
If your pet is missing
- Search the neighborhood immediately.
- Check County Animal Services’ lost-pet listings for both Bonita and Carlsbad shelters.
- File a lost report through the current PawBoost route linked by the County.
- Call 619-767-2675 more than once. Your pet may arrive after your first check.
- Contact all shelters within about 20 miles of where the animal disappeared.
- Update your pet’s microchip registry contact details.
If you found an animal
- Confirm which Animal Control agency serves the exact location where the animal was found.
- If safe, check for visible identification.
- Use a shelter or veterinary provider for a microchip scan where available.
- For a sick, injured, aggressive animal or bite within County jurisdiction, use 619-236-2341.
- Do not quickly rehome a found pet without giving the legal owner a reasonable opportunity to reclaim it.
Animal Bite or Possible Rabies Exposure in San Diego County
An animal bite is both an Animal Control issue and, when rabies exposure is possible, a human-health issue.
Wash the bite or scratch immediately
San Diego County Public Health advises washing the wound or exposed area with soap and water for 15 minutes.
Seek medical care promptly
Speak with a healthcare provider, particularly for wildlife exposure, bats, deep bites or unusual animal behavior.
Report the bite to the correct Animal Control agency
San Diego County says all animal bites are reportable to local Animal Control.
Call Public Health for rabies guidance
For rabies exposure / post-exposure guidance, contact the County Epidemiology Unit at 619-692-8499.
Owner Surrender: Bonita Shelter Is Currently Not Accepting Routine Relinquishments
This is a major current-service detail and should be checked before someone drives to Sweetwater Road with a pet.
Routine owner relinquishments unavailable
County Animal Services currently says it is unable to accept owner relinquishments because of the high number of animals in its care.
The County encourages private rehoming and other alternatives.
Owner-requested euthanasia
For residents of unincorporated San Diego County, the Department currently lists owner-requested euthanasia at $40.
An appointment is required. The service does not include the owner being present.
San Diego County Dog License Fees
These license prices are for the County Animal Services licensing area. Residents of incorporated cities should verify which agency handles licensing where they live.
| Dog status | License term | Current County fee |
|---|---|---|
| Altered | 1 year | $20 |
| Altered | 2 years | $35 |
| Altered | 3 years | $50 |
| Unaltered | 1 year | $60 |
| Unaltered | 2 years | $100 |
| Unaltered | 3 years | $150 |
Low-Cost Vaccines & Microchips at County Animal Services
County Animal Services provides low-cost clinic services, including rabies and core vaccinations plus microchips. This is a public clinic service—not proof that the Bonita shelter is an emergency veterinary hospital.
Vaccination
The County currently lists vaccinations at $20.
Microchip
The current County microchip fee is $25.
Outside service area
The current clinic page states that a $65 fee applies when the customer does not live in unincorporated San Diego County.
| Clinic type | Current schedule | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in |
Thursday 2:00–4:30 p.m. |
No appointment required under the current schedule. |
| Appointment |
Monday 12:00–4:00 p.m. |
Appointment required. |
| Appointment |
Tuesday 2:00–4:00 p.m. |
Appointment required. |
| Appointment |
Friday 12:00–4:00 p.m. |
Appointment required. |
Bonita-Only Program: Dog Day Out
This is one of the most location-specific programs on the page: County Animal Services says Dog Day Out operates only from the Bonita location.
Foster age
Foster / Dog Day Out participants must be at least 18 years old.
San Diego County resident
The County’s current foster instructions require participants to reside in San Diego County.
Give a shelter dog a break
Dog Day Out gives a Bonita shelter dog time outside the kennel for exercise, enrichment, socialization and visibility.
2026 Transition Watch: New Santee Animal Care Shelter
This is especially important for a page carrying “2026” in its title because South County shelter operations are approaching a major location change.
Bonita is still the current South Shelter
As of this verification, the County’s live shelter-locations page still lists 5821 Sweetwater Road, Bonita as the South Shelter with current public hours.
Santee shelter is coming soon
The County says its new approximately 20,000-square-foot Santee Animal Care Shelter is coming soon. A 2026 County recruitment document says the new facility will replace Bonita and that Animal Services is preparing for the transition.
What to Bring Before Visiting the Bonita Shelter
Adoption visit
- Current picture identification.
- Animal ID, kennel and tag numbers from the online listing.
- Two or three backup animal choices.
- Leash and collar for a dog.
- Secure carrier for a cat or small animal.
- Enough time to finish before the 4:30 p.m. adoption cutoff.
Lost-pet / service visit
- Recent photos of the animal.
- Microchip information.
- Rabies and license records.
- Exact address / ZIP where the animal was lost or found.
- Activity number or Animal ID if County staff previously provided one.
Map: South County Animal Shelter in Bonita
Current verified location: 5821 Sweetwater Road, Bonita, CA 91902. Because the new Santee shelter is approaching transition, check the County location page before a future visit.
Official San Diego County Animal Services Resources
Use these County pages for live information. Hours, pet availability, promotions, clinic timing and the Bonita-to-Santee transition can change after publication.
Bonita Animal Shelter FAQ
What is the official name of Bonita Animal Shelter?
The County’s current location page calls it South County Animal Shelter. It is operated by the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services.
Where is Bonita Animal Shelter located?
South County Animal Shelter is at 5821 Sweetwater Road, Bonita, CA 91902.
What is the Bonita Animal Shelter phone number?
The County Animal Services business phone is 619-767-2675.
What are Bonita Animal Shelter hours in 2026?
Current shelter hours are Thursday through Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The shelter is closed Wednesday and County holidays.
What time do adoptions close at Bonita Animal Shelter?
Adoptions currently close at 4:30 p.m., one hour before the shelter’s 5:30 p.m. public closing time.
Are Bonita shelter adoptions first come, first served?
Regular available animals are generally handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Certain high-interest animals use a separate opportunity-drawing process.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog at Bonita Animal Shelter?
San Diego County currently lists adult dogs at $85 and puppies 6 months or younger at $150. Confirm the specific animal’s fee before checkout.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat?
Current County pricing lists adult cats at $75 and kittens 6 months or younger at $100.
What does the adoption fee include?
County Animal Services says adoption fees include required alteration or an applicable voucher, vaccinations and other medical services. Adopted pets are microchipped, and dogs living in the County licensing service area receive a one-year license.
What is the 24-hour Bonita Animal Control emergency number?
For an animal-related emergency occurring now within County Animal Services jurisdiction, call 619-236-2341. Call 911 for an immediate human life-threatening situation.
Does Bonita Animal Shelter handle all cities in San Diego County?
No. County Animal Services primarily serves unincorporated San Diego County. Incorporated cities may use different municipal or contracted animal-control agencies. Check the agency responsible for the exact incident ZIP code.
What should I do if my pet is missing?
Search County shelter animals online, file the current lost-pet report, check nearby shelters, update microchip information, search your neighborhood and call 619-767-2675 more than once because your pet may arrive later.
How long can a lost animal be held before adoption?
County Animal Services says an animal unclaimed within the three-day holding period may be made available for adoption.
Is Bonita Animal Shelter accepting owner surrenders?
The current County relinquishment page says Animal Services is unable to accept routine owner relinquishments because of high shelter volume and encourages private rehoming alternatives.
Does Bonita Animal Shelter offer low-cost vaccinations?
County Animal Services currently lists vaccination services at $20 and microchips at $25, subject to service-area rules and the current clinic schedule.
Does Bonita have a named public shelter veterinarian?
A current public veterinarian roster or individual doctor assigned to community appointments was not verified on the official Bonita / County Animal Services pages used for this guide. This page therefore does not invent or publish a doctor name.
What is Dog Day Out at Bonita?
Dog Day Out is a County foster/enrichment program that lets qualifying participants take a shelter dog out for exercise, socialization and enrichment. County Animal Services says the program operates only from the Bonita location.
Is Bonita Animal Shelter moving to Santee?
San Diego County is building a new Animal Care Shelter in Santee, and a current County recruitment document says the new shelter will replace Bonita. However, the live County shelter-locations page still lists Bonita as the current South Shelter as of this page’s September 19, 2026 verification.
Is Animal-Shelter.org the official Bonita Animal Shelter website?
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent informational guide. Use San Diego County Department of Animal Services for live shelter, emergency and service instructions.
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.