LA County Animal Shelter Guide: Adoption Hours, Lost Pets, Fees, Animal Control, Video & Map
People searching for “LA County animal shelter” usually need the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, known as DACC. This guide explains adoption hours, the seven county care centers, lost and found pets, surrender options, field-service dispatch, licensing, fees, official video guidance, and the safest way to contact the right LA County animal care center.
Adoption visit hours Monday–Saturday, 11 AM–5 PM
Dispatch / field service South: (562) 940-6898
North: (661) 940-4191
Quick Answer: Which LA County animal shelter should you contact?
LA County Animal Care and Control operates seven animal care centers: Agoura, Baldwin Park, Castaic, Carson/Gardena, Downey, Lancaster, and Palmdale. Adoption visits are generally Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Sundays and holidays have limited services, and animal care centers are closed for public viewing during those limited-service periods.
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LA County is large, so the right answer depends on your task and location. Use these action cards to jump to the section that matches your reason for searching.
Verified LA County Animal Care facts
Video Guide: Learn how LA County animal care support works
This video is included because many visitors searching for LA County animal shelters are not only looking for a phone number. They want to understand how county shelter support, adoption, community help, and the LA County Animal Care Foundation connect with animals in DACC care.
LA County Animal Care Centers: addresses and service areas
DACC operates multiple care centers across the county. The correct center may depend on where the pet was found, where you live, or which center currently houses the animal you want to adopt.
| Care center | Official address | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Agoura Animal Care Center | 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura, CA 91301 | West county adoptions, lost/found, licensing, and general pet assistance. |
| Baldwin Park Animal Care Center | 4275 North Elton Street, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 | South county care-center services and animals housed at Baldwin Park. |
| Santa Clarita Valley / Castaic Animal Care Center | 31044 North Charlie Canyon Road, Castaic, CA 91384 | North county services for the Santa Clarita Valley / Castaic region. |
| Carson / Gardena Animal Care Center | 216 West Victoria Street, Gardena, CA 90248 | West/south county services and animals housed at Carson/Gardena. |
| Downey Animal Care Center | 11258 South Garfield Avenue, Downey, CA 90242 | South county shelter services, adoptions, lost/found, licensing, and pet help. |
| Lancaster Animal Care Center | 5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536 | North county services and animals housed at Lancaster. |
| Palmdale Animal Care Center | 38550 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550 | North county services and animals housed at Palmdale. |
LA County animal shelter adoption process: what to do step by step
Adopting from LA County DACC is easiest when you begin online, identify the animal’s care center, and visit during adoption hours. DACC says animals are available for adoption only once they have been spayed or neutered, unless an exceptional medical situation makes surgery inappropriate and a trust-deposit process applies.
Start with DACC’s official animal search instead of old screenshots or third-party reposts. Write down the animal ID, care center, and status.
LA County has seven care centers. A dog listed at Lancaster may not be at Downey, and a cat listed at Agoura may not be visible at Carson.
DACC lists adoption visits Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Sundays and holidays generally have limited services and are closed for public viewing.
If spay/neuter is still needed, adoption may need to wait. Ask whether the animal has medical, behavior, quarantine, rescue-only, or ID-hold notes.
Bring photo ID, landlord approval if you rent, pet limits, current pet information, and all decision-makers when possible.
Ask about decompression, food, medication, activity restrictions, slow introductions, and the free veterinary exam window after adoption.
LA County animal shelter adoption fees and extra costs
DACC’s adoption page says fees vary based on how long an animal has been in care. It also notes that additional charges may include sterilization, microchip, licensing for people in DACC service areas, and pain medication if the animal needed spay/neuter surgery.
| Fee or cost | Official detail shown by DACC | What to confirm before adoption |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption fee, 10 days or less in care | $50 adoption fee | Ask whether the animal’s current time-in-care category has changed. |
| Adoption fee, more than 10 days in care | $30 adoption fee | Ask whether any current promotion or special applies. |
| Dog sterilization fee | $50 listed on DACC adoption page | Ask whether the dog is already altered or pending surgery. |
| Cat sterilization fee | $40 listed on DACC adoption page | Ask whether the cat is already altered or pending surgery. |
| Microchip fee | $7.50 listed, not including national database registration | Ask how to register and update the chip after adoption. |
| License fee | May apply for people in DACC service areas | Ask whether your city or unincorporated area requires a license through DACC. |
| Possible pain medication | May depend on whether spay/neuter was needed | Ask what medication comes home with the pet and what follow-up is needed. |
What to bring before adopting from LA County DACC
Lost pet in LA County: same-day action plan
If your pet is missing in Los Angeles County, do not wait for one website to update. Check DACC’s official animal search, contact the correct care center, call the Communication Center if needed, update microchip information, and physically visit nearby shelters when possible.
Use the official DACC search and check by species, date, location, and shelter center. Recheck daily because intake and status can change.
South County Communication Center: (562) 940-6898. North County Communication Center: (661) 940-4191.
Photos and breed labels can be wrong. A frightened pet can appear smaller, darker, injured, or like a different breed in a shelter photo.
Call the chip registry, update your contact details, and search the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup if you do not know the registry.
Bring photos, vet records, license records, adoption papers, microchip registration, or other proof.
LA County, LA City, Pasadena, Long Beach, Burbank, and other local agencies may have separate shelter systems. Search based on where the pet was lost, not only where you live.
Found a dog or cat in LA County: what to do safely
If you found a pet, the safest route is to report it through the proper local animal-care or animal-control channel. Do not assume the animal is abandoned, and do not give the pet away online without a proof-of-ownership process.
Surrendering or rehoming a pet in LA County
DACC says that when surrender feels like the only option, it strongly encourages owners to review resources that may help keep the pet at home, rehome the pet, or connect with a local rescue organization. DACC also states that it no longer requires appointments to surrender, and owners may visit a local DACC Animal Care Center during business hours if surrender is the best path after exploring options.
LA County animal control, bites, strays, cruelty and noise complaints
Animal control questions should be routed carefully. DACC’s contact page says field-service requests can include stray animals, non-emergency animal bites, cruelty or neglect complaints, and injured animals. Calls that need service must be called into the Communication Centers so an officer can be dispatched.
Licensing, spay/neuter, vaccination, foster, volunteer and donation help
LA County DACC is not only for adoptions. The department also lists pet licensing, field services, microchips, spay/neuter, vaccination, emergency response, language access, adoption partners, foster care, volunteer opportunities, and donations or fundraising support.
Call scripts for common LA County animal shelter needs
A clear call script helps DACC staff understand your need quickly, especially when the county system is busy.
Adoption script: “Hi, I’m interested in animal ID [ID number] listed at [care center]. Is the animal still available, and is the pet ready for adoption or pending spay/neuter, medical, hold, or rescue-only status?”
Lost pet script: “Hi, my [dog/cat] is missing near [street/intersection] in [city]. The pet is [description], has [collar/microchip], and I can provide photos. Which DACC center should I check today?”
Field-service script: “Hi, I need a non-emergency field-service response for [stray dog / injured animal / bite / cruelty concern] at [exact location]. Can this be routed to the correct officer?”
Surrender script: “Hi, I’m considering surrendering my pet after reviewing rehoming options. My pet is [age/species], has [medical/behavior notes], and I live in [city/community]. Which DACC center and process applies?”
LA County Animal Shelter map and official locator
Because LA County has seven DACC animal care centers, the best map for many users is the official care-center locator or a Google Maps search for “Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control near me.” Use the exact animal listing or your found/lost location to choose the right center.
Official LA County Animal Care links
Common mistakes that slow LA County shelter visitors down
LA County Animal Shelter FAQs
The official county agency is the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, also called DACC.
DACC lists seven animal care centers: Agoura, Baldwin Park, Castaic, Carson/Gardena, Downey, Lancaster, and Palmdale.
DACC lists adoption visits Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Sundays and holidays have limited services and are closed for public viewing.
DACC’s adoption page says adoption fees vary by time in care, with $50 listed for animals in care ten days or less and $30 for animals in care more than ten days. Other charges may include sterilization, microchip, license, or medication costs.
Use the DACC Communication Centers: South County at (562) 940-6898 or North County at (661) 940-4191, depending on the area served.
No. LA County DACC and City of Los Angeles Animal Services are separate systems. Check the official agency serving the exact city or unincorporated area where the animal is located.
Search DACC’s animal database, call the proper Communication Center, visit nearby care centers in person, update microchip details, and also check neighboring shelter systems.
DACC says appointments are no longer required to surrender, but it strongly encourages owners to review rehoming and support resources first. Visit a local DACC care center during business hours if surrender is the best path.
DACC lists pet licensing at (562) 345-0400 and licensing@animalcare.lacounty.gov.
DACC lists spay/neuter assistance at (562) 345-0321. Check the official DACC website for current voucher and assistance details.
The administrative office is listed at 5898 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90805. For adoptions or lost pets, use the care center or animal search instead of going to the administrative office.
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent animal shelter and animal control directory. The official LA County DACC website is animalcare.lacounty.gov.
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.