Laguna Beach Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
Use this Laguna Beach animal-help dashboard to adopt a pet, confirm shelter hours, call Animal Control, report a stray dog, reclaim a lost pet, check adoption costs, license a dog, handle animal emergencies, and find official shelter links.
Verified call-ahead note: City and PUP pages list the shelter at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road with 11am-4pm hours, but one PUP emergency page also shows a temporary Monday/Thursday closure notice. Call before driving.
Official source checked
Last verified: August 12, 2026. Details use City of Laguna Beach Animal Services, PUP Laguna Beach shelter/adoption/resources/emergency pages, and PetData licensing pages.
Call before driving
Because official pages show a small hours conflict, call 949-497-3552 before adoption visits, play-yard visits, reclaim trips, donation drop-offs or long drives.
No fake data added
No fake reviews, no fake ratings, no invented staff promises, no unverified special event dates, and no BreadcrumbList schema inside this Custom HTML.
Choose What You Need
- Hours conflict and call-first note
- Clickable action cards
- Who to call first
- Adoption and play-yard hours
- Adoption costs
- Adoption micro-steps
- Lost/found and reclaim route
- Impound and boarding costs
- Dog license fees and rules
- Animal Control and emergencies
- Birds, wildlife and sea mammals
- Vaccines, vets and low-cost help
- Donations and volunteer
- Call scripts
- Map
- Official links
- 10 FAQs
Current Hours Check: Important for 2026
Most official shelter pages show daily 11am-4pm hours. One PUP emergency page shows “until further notice” closed Mondays and Thursdays. This page handles that safely instead of guessing.
Main listed hours
City and PUP pages list Laguna Beach Animal Shelter hours as 11am-4pm.
Play yard
PUP lists play-yard hours as 11am-2pm. This matters if you want to visit or interact with a dog.
Call-first rule
Because an emergency page has a temporary closure note, call 949-497-3552 before relying on daily hours.
Clickable Laguna Beach Animal Help Cards
Tap the matching action. Each card uses an official or professional route and avoids unverified shortcuts.
Who to Call First
Use this before you drive, pick up a stray dog, bring a found pet, or post online.
| Situation | Call / click | What to say | Next micro-step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adopt a pet | Shelter: 949-497-3552 | “I’m interested in adopting. Are you open today, and what animals are currently available?” | Ask whether you should apply in person that day. |
| Visit dog play yard | 949-497-3552 | “Is the play yard available today between 11am and 2pm?” | Confirm before driving because hours notes conflict. |
| Found stray dog without owner contact | Animal Control: 949-497-0701 | “I found a stray dog at [location]. It has/does not have a collar.” | Press 2 for an operator and wait for instructions. |
| Lost pet | Shelter and Animal Control | “My [dog/cat] is missing near [cross streets]. Has a matching animal been brought in?” | Check daily and bring proof of ownership if found. |
| Animal emergency in Laguna Beach or Laguna Woods | 949-497-0701, press 2 | “This is an animal emergency involving [animal] at [exact address].” | Do not handle aggressive, injured or unsafe animals yourself. |
| Baby bird or injured bird | Animal Control or Pacific Wildlife Project | “I found a [baby/injured] bird at [location]. What should I do?” | Do not feed or move unless instructed. |
| Pet medical emergency after hours | Animal Emergency Clinic or local emergency vet | “My pet has [symptoms/injury]. Are you open and should I come now?” | Call clinic before driving. |
Laguna Beach Animal Shelter Adoption Hours
Use this as a planning table, then call the shelter because the current online pages include a temporary-closure conflict.
| Day | Main listed shelter hours | Play-yard planning | Best action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 11:00am-4:00pm on main pages | Call first | Emergency page shows a temporary Monday closure note, so verify. |
| Tuesday | 11:00am-4:00pm | 11:00am-2:00pm listed | Good day to call and ask about available animals. |
| Wednesday | 11:00am-4:00pm | 11:00am-2:00pm listed | Applications and dog play-yard planning. |
| Thursday | 11:00am-4:00pm on main pages | Call first | Emergency page shows a temporary Thursday closure note, so verify. |
| Friday | 11:00am-4:00pm | 11:00am-2:00pm listed | Call before weekend demand. |
| Saturday | 11:00am-4:00pm | 11:00am-2:00pm listed | Adoption decisions are listed as semi-weekly on Wednesday and Saturday. |
| Sunday | 11:00am-4:00pm on main pages | 11:00am-2:00pm listed | Call first if traveling far. |
| Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day | Closed | Closed | Do not plan public visits. |
Adoption Costs and What Is Included
PUP’s resources page lists adoption costs by animal type. The adoption page explains the care included with dogs and cats.
| Animal type | Listed adoption cost | Included / important note | Ask before adopting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy, 4 months or less | $150 | Dogs/puppies listed as vet-examined, vaccinated, dewormed, flea-bathed, spayed/neutered and microchipped. | Ask about vaccine schedule, socialization and training needs. |
| Dog over 4 months | $125 | Dog adoption page lists vet exam, DHLPP vaccines, flu vaccines, rabies vaccine, wormings, flea baths, spay/neuter, microchip and needed shelter medical treatment. | Ask about fenced-yard need, dog-to-dog meet and medical hold status. |
| Kitten, 4 months or less | $100 | Cats/kittens listed as vet-examined, vaccinated, FeLV/FIV tested, treated, spayed/neutered and microchipped. | Bring carrier or ask about buying one at shelter. |
| Cat over 4 months | $75 | Cats must leave in a carrier. | Ask about litter habits, indoor setup and first-week routine. |
| Other animals, rabbits, pigs, etc. | $50 | Confirm species-specific care and current availability. | Ask about enclosure, diet, vet needs and legal care requirements. |
Adoption Micro-Steps
Laguna Beach uses an application-and-review style process, so treat adoption as a conversation, not a same-minute checkout.
Call for today’s status
Call 949-497-3552 to verify hours, current public access, available animals and whether the play yard is available.
Visit and apply in person
PUP says animals are available only by application and that the application must be completed in person at the shelter.
Expect a waiting period
After you apply, the adoption committee reviews applications for the animal’s best interest.
Use the dog play yard properly
If you apply for a dog and the dog is not on medical hold, PUP says you can visit the dog in the play yard from 11am until 2pm daily, subject to current access.
Bring resident dogs when required
If you already own one or more dogs and apply for another dog, your application is considered only after the dogs have met and interacted successfully.
Check distance rule
PUP says it only adopts within a 60-mile radius of the shelter.
Bring household decision-makers
PUP encourages all household members to meet the prospective pet before adoption.
Lost, Found and Reclaim Route
For a missing pet or found stray, speed and the right phone route matter more than reading generic advice.
If your pet is lost
- Call Laguna Beach Animal Shelter at 949-497-3552.
- Call Animal Control at 949-497-0701 if pickup/field response may be involved.
- Give species, breed/type, color, sex, collar/tag, microchip, last-seen location and photos if available.
- Ask whether your pet may be at the shelter and what proof is needed to reclaim.
- Bring photo ID, proof of ownership, rabies/license information if available, and payment for possible fees.
- Check daily and post local lost-pet notices with clear photos and cross streets.
If you found a stray dog
- If the dog is not wearing a collar with owner contact information, the City says to call Animal Services at 949-497-0701.
- Animal Services can pick up the dog, take it to the shelter, scan for a microchip and try to contact the owner.
- Do not put yourself at risk with an aggressive, injured or frightened animal.
- If you can safely keep the animal briefly, keep it away from your pets and children while waiting for guidance.
- Do not privately rehome a found pet before the official owner-reunification route has a chance to work.
Impound, Boarding and Quarantine Costs
These fees help a lost-pet owner estimate what reclaim may involve. Always call with the animal ID for the exact total.
| Fee item | Listed amount | Applies to | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| First impoundment within one year | $35 | Impounded animal | May combine with boarding/licensing/vaccine items. |
| Second impoundment within one year | $70 | Repeat impound | Escalates by incident. |
| Third impoundment within one year | $105 | Repeat impound | Ask staff for total before pickup. |
| Fourth impoundment within one year | $140 | Repeat impound | Use licensing/microchip to reduce future risk. |
| Fifth impoundment within one year | $175 | Repeat impound | Higher repeat fee. |
| Sixth impoundment within one year | $210 | Repeat impound | Higher repeat fee. |
| Seventh and later impoundment | $245 per incident | Repeat impound | High-cost warning. |
| Boarding cost | $20 per day | General boarding while impounded | Reclaim quickly. |
| Vicious animal boarding | $75 per day | Vicious animal cases | Call for case-specific directions. |
| Quarantined animal boarding | $55 per day, $100 deposit required | Quarantine cases | Bite/quarantine cases can have special rules. |
| In-home quarantine cost for bite | $90 | Bite quarantine | Ask Animal Control for current process. |
Laguna Beach Dog License Fees and Rules
Licensing is handled through PetData for Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods. Emerald Bay residents are excluded from the Laguna Beach city rule and are routed to Orange County Animal Care and Control.
| License type | 1 year | 2 year | 3 year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unaltered pet | $96 | $192 | $288 |
| Spayed/neutered pet | $24 | $48 | $72 |
| Senior 65+ unaltered pet | $96 | $192 | $288 |
| Senior 65+ spayed/neutered pet | $12 | $24 | $36 |
| Late fee | $17 | — | — |
| Replacement tag | $5 | — | — |
License rules that matter
- All dogs 4 months and older residing in Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods must be licensed.
- New dogs or new residency must be licensed within 15 days.
- Current rabies vaccination proof is required.
- License term cannot extend beyond the rabies vaccination expiration.
- Proof of spay/neuter is required to receive the lower spayed/neutered fee.
- Proof of owner age is required for senior discount.
- PetData customer service: 833-991-0935.
Animal Control and Local Safety
The City employs Animal Services Officers who enforce animal regulations in Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods, oversee dog parks, and assist with injured wild animals and birds.
Animal Control phone
Call 949-497-0701 and press 2 for an operator.
Stray dog pickup
The City says Animal Services can pick up a stray dog, bring it to the shelter, scan for microchip and try to contact the owner.
Hot car warning
The City warns that cars can be 40 degrees hotter than outside temperature and says not to leave animals in unattended vehicles.
Dogs on beaches
Use the official City dogs-on-beach page before taking dogs to beach areas, especially during seasonal or time-based rules.
Coyote information
Laguna’s City Animal Services page links to coyote information. Use official guidance before leaving pets unattended outdoors.
Immediate danger
For urgent danger to people, call 911. For animal-specific emergencies in Laguna Beach/Laguna Woods, use Animal Control.
Birds, Wildlife, Sea Mammals and Poison Help
Laguna Beach has wildlife, canyon and coastal situations. Use the right specialist route when the animal is not a regular dog/cat shelter case.
Baby or injured bird
PUP emergency information says Laguna Beach/Laguna Woods residents should contact Animal Control at 949-497-0701 and press 2.
Pacific Wildlife Project
PUP lists Pacific Wildlife Project for birds at 949-831-1178.
Wildlife Wetland Center
PUP lists Wildlife Wetland Center at 714-374-5587.
Marine mammals
PUP resources list Pacific Marine Mammal Center at 949-494-3050.
Poison Control
PUP emergency information lists Poison Help at 800-222-1222 and ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435.
Do not improvise
Do not feed, medicate or move wildlife unless Animal Control or a wildlife specialist instructs you.
Vaccines, Local Vets and Low-Cost Help
These local resources are included because searchers often need the next step after adoption, reclaim or licensing.
Annual vaccination clinic
PUP lists an annual vaccination clinic on the second Saturday of February, 1pm-3pm, place TBD. Dogs must be on leash and cats in carriers.
Local vet list
PUP resources list Laguna Beach Animal Hospital, Canyon Animal Hospital, Arch Beach Veterinary Clinic, Aliso Beach Animal Clinic and Laguna Beach Veterinary Medical Center.
Low-cost spay/neuter
PUP resources list Golden State Humane, Mesa West Pet Hospital, Trinity Animal Hospital/Affordable Spay & Neuter, Animal Discount Clinic and Animal Medical Center as low-cost resource options.
Donations, Volunteer and Shelter Support
PUP benefits Laguna Beach Animal Shelter and supports medical rehabilitation so healthy pets can be put up for adoption.
Donate through PUP
Donations to PUP help fund rehabilitation for animals requiring medical attention and support rescue work for dogs and cats.
Volunteer training
PUP says volunteer training occurs once each month and is subject to change. Call 949-497-3552 for specific dates and times.
Zero tolerance policy
PUP states a zero-tolerance policy for verbal or physical abuse toward veterinarians or staff, or inappropriate behavior at the shelter.
Before You Leave Home
Call first, bring ID, prepare to apply in person, bring household members, confirm 60-mile rule.
Ask if play yard is open 11am-2pm and whether resident dog meeting is required.
Recent photo, microchip number, license/rabies proof, owner ID, cross streets and payment.
Rabies certificate, spay/neuter proof, senior proof if applicable, correct fee and PetData route.
Copy/Paste Call Scripts
Adoption
Hi, I’m interested in adopting from Laguna Beach Animal Shelter. Are you open today, what animals are currently available, and should I apply in person?Dog play yard
Hi, I want to meet a dog. Is the play yard open today between 11am and 2pm, and is the dog on medical hold or available for visits?Lost pet
Hi, my [dog/cat/other] is missing near [cross streets]. Description: [color/size/collar/microchip]. Has a matching animal been brought in or picked up?Found stray dog
Hi, I found a stray dog at [exact location]. It has/does not have a collar. I can/cannot safely stay nearby. Can Animal Control respond?Map: Laguna Beach Animal Shelter
Use this map for location planning. Call before driving because hours/access notes should be confirmed day-of.
Official and Professional Links
The important details are already summarized above. Use these links for live status, adoption, licensing, emergency guidance and final verification.
Laguna Beach Animal Shelter FAQ
What is the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter phone number?
The shelter phone number listed by City/PUP sources is 949-497-3552.
What is the Laguna Beach Animal Control phone number?
Animal Control is listed as 949-497-0701. PUP emergency guidance says to press 2 for an operator.
Where is Laguna Beach Animal Shelter located?
Laguna Beach Animal Shelter is listed at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651-1184.
What are Laguna Beach Animal Shelter adoption hours?
City and PUP pages list shelter hours as 11am to 4pm. Play-yard hours are listed as 11am to 2pm. Because one PUP emergency page also shows a temporary Monday/Thursday closure note, call 949-497-3552 before visiting.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog from Laguna Beach Animal Shelter?
PUP resources list dog adoption over 4 months old as $125 and puppy adoption 4 months or less as $150.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat from Laguna Beach Animal Shelter?
PUP resources list cat adoption over 4 months old as $75 and kitten adoption 4 months or less as $100.
What is included with dog and cat adoption?
PUP says dogs and cats that become available for adoption are seen by a veterinarian, vaccinated, dewormed, flea-bathed, microchipped, spayed/neutered, and receive needed medical treatment while at the shelter.
How long are animals held before adoption assessment?
PUP says animals are held for seven days upon arrival to allow time to locate an owner. If unclaimed, they undergo health, temperament and behavior assessment for adoption.
Does Laguna Beach require dog licenses?
Yes. PetData says all dogs 4 months and older residing in Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods must be licensed within 15 days of being acquired or within 15 days of new residency. Emerald Bay residents are excluded from this city rule and license through Orange County Animal Care and Control.
What should I do if I find a stray dog in Laguna Beach?
If you find a stray dog not wearing a collar with owner contact information, the City says to call Animal Services at 949-497-0701. Animal Services can pick up the dog, bring it to the shelter, scan for a microchip and try to contact the owner.
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.