King County Animal Shelter, Control & Adoption 2026
Looking to adopt a pet, find a missing dog or cat, report an animal-control problem, or license a pet in King County? Your first step is to identify the correct agency. Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) operates the county Pet Adoption Center in Kent and serves unincorporated King County plus its contracting cities.
The current center is at 21615 64th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032. Adoption visits are available daily, but end one hour before the shelter closes. The distinction matters, especially if you’re travelling from another part of the county to meet a specific animal.
King County Animal Shelter Adoption Hours 2026
The center’s general hours are longer than its adoption hours. If adoption is your goal, use the adoption cutoff rather than the building closing time.
| Service | Monday–Friday | Saturday–Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Adoption Center | Noon–6 PM | Noon–5 PM |
| Adoption meet-and-greets | Noon–5 PM | Noon–4 PM |
| Adoption processing | Ends one hour before center closing | Ends one hour before center closing |
King County Animal Shelter Adoption Fees
RASKC’s published standard fees depend on the animal’s species and age. These are not necessarily the prices on every individual listing: promotions and animal-specific circumstances may change the displayed fee.
| Animal | Published adoption fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Cat, 6 months or older | $30 | Standard fee; individual promotions may apply. |
| Kitten, younger than 6 months | $100 | Check individual animal listing for the current fee. |
| Dog, 6 months or older | $100–$250 | Exact fee varies. |
| Puppy, younger than 6 months | $100–$250 | Check the pet’s listing before visiting. |
| Rabbit, bird, rodent or other animal | Varies | Depends on species and individual animal. |
How to Adopt a Pet From King County RASKC
RASKC’s process is intended to help you make an informed match. You do not need to arrive already certain about a particular dog or cat. Shelter staff can discuss what they know about an animal’s behavior, history and needs.
Search animals currently available
Open the official King County adoptable-pets page . Note the animal’s name, ID, age and current location. A pet shown in a foster home uses a different adoption process from a pet physically at the Kent shelter.
Choose the appropriate adoption path
Click the animal’s Meet option on the official listing. RASKC identifies whether you should visit the shelter, submit a foster-interest form or use a partner-location process.
Bring your photo identification
Adopters must be at least 18 years old and provide photo ID. RASKC welcomes people with varied living arrangements, including renters.
Visit during adoption hours
For pets at the Kent center, walk-in meet-and-greets run noon–5 p.m. weekdays and noon–4 p.m. weekends. Tell the staff the animal’s name or ID.
Discuss the match with shelter staff
Staff may limit meetings to three pets depending on staffing. Ask about personality, energy, known medical needs, home adjustment and compatibility with children or other animals.
Complete the adoption
RASKC processes shelter adoptions on a first-interested, first-served basis. Allow approximately 30 minutes for paperwork and final questions once a successful match is made.
Three Adoption Paths: Shelter, Foster and Partner Location
Meet pets at the Kent center
Visit during public adoption hours. Staff will arrange a meeting with eligible available pets. Most shelter adoptions can be completed during the visit.
Submit an interest form first
Some pets live temporarily with foster families. RASKC requires a Foster Adoption Interest eForm, and the foster contact is coordinated through that process. Submitting a form does not guarantee adoption.
Adopt at a participating location
RASKC lists Reber Ranch in Kent as an adoption partner. Partner-store adoptions are coordinated on a first-come, first-served basis, with paperwork and payment handled at the partner location.
What’s Included With a King County Adoption?
One reason shelter adoption can be a good value is that much of the animal’s initial medical preparation is already included in the adoption fee.
Included in eligible adoptions
- Spay or neuter surgery through the RASKC veterinary team.
- King County pet license when applicable.
- Microchip for dogs and cats.
- Initial vaccinations.
- Rabies vaccination when the animal is older than four months, as applicable.
- Collar.
- Temporary cat carrier or dog leash, as appropriate.
Plan for costs after adoption
Budget for food, bedding, bowls, toys, training supplies, flea prevention, grooming, future vaccinations and regular veterinary care.
RASKC also advertises a $40 dog-training credit through Rover for qualifying dog adopters. Check the current conditions with the adoption team.
Lost a Dog or Cat in King County?
Losing a pet is frightening, and the first few hours can be particularly stressful. RASKC provides a formal lost-pet reporting and found-animal search process for its service area.
Confirm the correct animal-control jurisdiction
RASKC serves unincorporated King County and its contracting cities, not automatically every city in the county. If your pet went missing outside the RASKC service area, search the responsible city’s animal services as well.
File an official lost-pet report
Open the King County lost-pet page and use its Report a Lost Pet option. Add accurate identification, location and contact details.
Search animals reported as found
Use the View Found Pets option linked from the county page. Check repeatedly as new animals are reported or admitted to the shelter.
Visit the Kent Pet Adoption Center
RASKC recommends checking in person even after filing an online report. Bring photographs, microchip information and ownership records if you identify a possible match.
Keep checking beyond the first day
Search neighborhood hiding places, share useful photos with neighbors, and continue monitoring the official shelter listings. A found pet may be reported later, especially if it was temporarily cared for by a neighbor.
Found a Stray Pet? Follow the King County Process
If the animal is approachable
Check for identification without placing yourself at risk. If it is safe to do so, arrange a microchip scan through an appropriate veterinary clinic or shelter.
Use the official found-pet instructions to report the animal and follow the owner’s reunification process.
If the animal is frightened or aggressive
Do not chase or corner it. If the animal can be safely contained in a yard, garage or kennel, call RASKC at 206-296-7387 for its field-response process.
RASKC’s found-pet guidance lists animal control officers operating seven days a week, with posted pickup-response hours that may differ from general complaint-service hours.
Emergency & Important King County Animal Contacts
RASKC publishes separate instructions for ordinary animal-control calls and emergencies threatening health or safety. The distinction is important: a routine complaint is not the same as a dangerous, immediately threatening situation.
| Service | Contact | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| RASKC main shelter / animal services | 206-296-7387 | Adoption, shelter services and routine RASKC animal-control assistance. |
| Animal-control complaints | 206-296-7387 | Normal animal-control response in RASKC-served jurisdictions. |
| Emergency threatening human or animal safety | 911 | King County’s RASKC animal-control response page directs immediate safety emergencies to 911. |
| Pet licensing assistance | 206-296-2712 | RASKC pet-license purchases, renewals and questions. |
| Lost pet reports | LostPets@kingcounty.gov | Follow-up on a RASKC lost/found report, including notifying the agency when a pet is reunited. |
| Adoption questions | AdoptAPet@kingcounty.gov | Questions specifically about RASKC adoption services. |
Which King County Cities Does RASKC Serve?
This is one of the most important distinctions for anyone searching “King County animal control.” RASKC serves unincorporated King County and 25 contracting cities. Other municipalities maintain separate animal-services arrangements.
RASKC service-area rule
RASKC provides municipal animal-services functions in the unincorporated county and participating contracted cities. The exact address where an incident occurred determines which agency should receive your request.
If you are near a city boundary, confirm whether you are within the incorporated city or unincorporated King County.
Do not assume Seattle uses RASKC
Seattle operates its own animal-shelter and animal-control services. Being geographically within King County does not make RASKC the responsible agency for an incident in Seattle.
Check the county’s other pet agencies directory when the location is outside RASKC’s contract area.
King County Pet Licensing: Fees and How to Apply
RASKC’s official licensing page lets residents check which agency serves their address. This is especially important in King County because licensing providers can vary by municipality.
| License category | Current published fee | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Altered dog or cat | $30 annually | Pet is spayed or neutered. |
| Unaltered dog or cat | $60 annually | Pet is not spayed or neutered. |
| Juvenile pet | $15 | Unaltered pet younger than six months; renewal due after six months. |
| Senior discount | $15 | Altered pet; owner age 65 or older. |
| Disability discount | $15 | Qualifying owner with a disability and altered pet. Contact licensing staff; this category is not offered for online purchase. |
Check your address
Open King County’s official pet-licensing page and use its address tool to determine whether RASKC is your licensing provider.
Select the correct license category
Choose the category based on your pet’s age, spay/neuter status and any applicable discount. Keep relevant documentation available.
Purchase or renew
Continue through the official county purchase/renewal process if RASKC is your provider. For disability-related licensing assistance, call 206-296-2712.
Need to Surrender or Rehome a Pet in King County?
Surrendering a pet can be an extremely difficult decision. King County encourages owners to explore available support and direct rehoming options before bringing an animal into the shelter.
Appointments are required
RASKC accepts dog and cat owner surrenders by appointment from residents of its service area.
Complete the official surrender request form and wait for staff to contact you. The county currently warns that appointment availability may be delayed by 8–10 weeks.
The appointment itself typically takes 30–45 minutes. Bring a photo ID and relevant veterinary records.
Home To Home rehoming
King County participates in a Home To Home program intended to help owners connect directly with potential adopters, reducing unnecessary shelter intake.
RASKC states it has not personally examined or evaluated Home To Home animals. Prospective adopters must make their own careful assessment.
Does King County Animal Shelter Provide Veterinary Care?
Veterinary care for adoptable shelter animals
RASKC’s official adoption program confirms that its veterinary team performs spay/neuter procedures and provides the initial medical preparation included with eligible shelter adoptions.
This includes vaccinations and microchipping where appropriate.
Public veterinary appointments are different
The reviewed RASKC adoption information does not establish a general public veterinary hospital offering appointments for privately owned pets.
No public veterinarian name, general consultation fee or public appointment timetable is added here without independent official verification.
Visit the King County Pet Adoption Center in Kent
Current Kent location
King County Pet Adoption Center
21615 64th Avenue South
Kent, Washington 98032
Phone: 206-296-7387
Email: AdoptAPet@kingcounty.gov
New facility planned for 2027
King County has announced a new Pet Adoption Center under development for 2027.
For a 2026 visit, continue using the officially published 21615 64th Ave S address unless King County announces a move.
Official King County Shelter and Animal Services Resources
The practical details are covered above. These official links are useful for live pet availability, submitting forms and confirming operational changes.
King County Animal Shelter: 10 Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is the King County Animal Shelter located?
Regional Animal Services of King County operates the Pet Adoption Center at 21615 64th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032.
2. What are King County Animal Shelter adoption hours in 2026?
Walk-in adoption meet-and-greets are available Monday–Friday, noon–5 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday, noon–4 p.m. The center itself closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends.
3. What is the King County Animal Services phone number?
RASKC’s main telephone number is 206-296-7387 (206-296-PETS).
4. How much does it cost to adopt a pet from RASKC?
Standard published prices are $30 for cats at least six months old, $100 for younger kittens, and $100–$250 for dogs and puppies. Other species vary. Special promotions and individual animal prices can differ.
5. Do I need an appointment to adopt a pet?
Walk-in meet-and-greets are available for pets housed at the Kent shelter during adoption hours. Pets in foster homes require the Foster Adoption Interest form and a separately coordinated meeting.
6. What is included in a King County shelter adoption?
Eligible adoptions include spay/neuter surgery, applicable initial vaccinations, a pet license when applicable, and microchipping for dogs and cats. RASKC also provides a collar and temporary carrier or leash as appropriate.
7. Does RASKC have an adoption return guarantee?
Yes. RASKC publishes a 90-day adoption guarantee under which an adopted pet may be returned for a full refund of the adoption fee within 90 days. Returns after that period do not qualify for the published refund.
8. What should I do if my pet is missing in King County?
If you are in the RASKC service area, submit a report through King County’s official lost-pet page, search found-pet listings, and check in person at the Kent center during business hours. Also check the responsible agency if the pet could have crossed into another municipality.
9. What number do I call for King County animal control?
For routine RASKC animal-control assistance, call 206-296-7387. For an immediate emergency threatening the health or safety of a human or animal, RASKC directs callers to 911. These directions apply to RASKC-served jurisdictions.
10. Does RASKC serve Seattle and every King County city?
No. RASKC serves unincorporated King County and 25 contracting cities. Seattle and certain other municipalities maintain separate animal-services arrangements. Confirm the correct agency for the exact location involved.
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.