Pinellas Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
The public shelter behind this search is Pinellas County Animal Services (PCAS), a Pinellas County government department serving animal-welfare, adoption, lost-and-found, licensing and Animal Control needs. The shelter is at 12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774.
If you are coming to adopt, reclaim a missing pet, report a loose animal, ask about surrender, obtain a county license or report a bite, use the correct service route below rather than relying on older directory hours or a generic shelter listing.
Choose the Correct Pinellas Animal-Service Route
Adoption, lost-pet recovery, Animal Control and emergency response are different jobs. Starting with the right route saves time.
Adopt a dog or cat
Check current PCAS animals online, compare the current fee, then visit the Adoption Center Monday–Saturday from 11 AM–6 PM.
Your pet is missing
Search Petco Love Lost and current shelter animals, update microchip information and do not go three days without making an in-person shelter check.
You found a stray
Try to locate the owner, check the tag and microchip, report the animal and call PCAS if the owner cannot be found.
Loose animal, welfare or nuisance concern
Call 727-582-2600, option 4. Use 911 when there is an immediate threat to human life or another police, fire or medical emergency.
Pinellas Animal Shelter Adoption Hours 2026
Public shelter hours are not the same as customer-service phone hours or field Animal Control coverage.
| Service | Current schedule | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption Center |
Monday–Saturday 11 AM–6 PM |
Use this window for normal public adoption-center visits. |
| Animal reclaim |
Monday–Saturday 11 AM–6 PM |
Owners reclaiming an animal use the current public reclaim hours. |
| Customer Service phone |
Monday–Friday 9 AM–5:30 PM |
Call before 11 AM when you need information rather than an in-person adoption visit. |
| Sunday public adoption/reclaim | Closed | Animal Control field response is a separate service and may still operate. |
| County holidays | Closed | Check the official County page before a holiday trip. |
Pinellas County Animal Services Adoption Fees
Fees depend on the animal’s species, age and—among dogs—size. Current ongoing promotions can reduce or waive the normal amount for eligible adopters or pets.
| Animal | Current fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Large-breed dog | $50 | Current County page lists heartworm preventative with this category. |
| Small-breed dog under 25 lb | $100 | Current County page lists heartworm preventative with this category. |
| Puppy 6 months or younger | $100 | Age determines this category. |
| Cat | $40 | Standard adult-cat price on the current County page. |
| Kitten 6 months or younger | $50 | Standard kitten price on the current County page. |
Current Ongoing Adoption Discounts
Vets Adopt Pets
PCAS currently waives adoption fees for veterans who provide proof of military status and meet the shelter’s adoption requirements.
Birthday Paw-ty
Visit within 10 days of your birthday and provide valid proof of birthdate. The fee can be waived for qualified animals. The offer is limited to once per household.
Age 7+ gets 50% off
The current adoption page lists a 50% reduction when adopting a pet age seven or older.
What Comes With a Pinellas County Adoption?
Spay or neuter
PCAS states that all adoptable animals are sterilized before adoption.
Microchip
Adoption includes a microchip with free lifetime registration.
Age-appropriate vaccines
Current adoption information includes age-appropriate vaccinations.
One-year pet license
A one-year Pinellas County pet license is included.
Bag of pet food
The County lists a bag of food among adoption inclusions.
Toy or treat
Adopted animals also go home with a toy or treat.
How to Adopt From Pinellas County Animal Services
The current County pages do not publish a universal appointment requirement for ordinary Adoption Center visits. If you are traveling specifically for one animal, verify that animal’s status before making the trip.
Search the current dog or cat list
Start with the official adoptable dog page or adoptable cat page .
Save the animal details
Note the pet’s name, photo and any animal number shown. Availability can change as pets are reclaimed, adopted, transferred or receive medical care.
Check the fee and promotion that applies
Use the official Adoption Center page to confirm the current animal category and any ongoing veteran, birthday or senior-pet discount.
Confirm availability if the trip depends on one pet
Call 727-582-2600, option 8 if you need Customer Service to clarify the current animal status before a long drive.
Visit during the Adoption Center window
The current public schedule is Monday–Saturday, 11 AM–6 PM. The shelter is closed on County holidays.
Meet the pet and ask pet-specific questions
Ask about known behavior, medical history, current treatment, feeding, activity, household fit and anything staff recommends for the first days after adoption.
Review the included records before leaving
Confirm the microchip registration, vaccination information, sterilization status and included one-year County license.
Lost a Pet in Pinellas County? Use This Recovery Plan
PCAS specifically warns owners not to let three days pass without coming to the shelter for a visual inspection. That makes repeated checking important even when you have already filed an online report.
Search the immediate area first
Check the neighborhood, talk with nearby pet owners and place clear lost-pet signs where the animal disappeared.
Update the microchip company
Tell the chip registry the animal is missing and confirm that your current phone number, address and alternate contact are correct.
Use Petco Love Lost
Open the official Pinellas lost-pet instructions and follow its Petco Love Lost route. PCAS automatically sends animals in its care to that search system.
Contact PCAS when you see a possible match
Email animalrequests@pinellas.gov or call 727-582-2600, option 8. Have the animal number ready.
Make an in-person visual check
PCAS says not to let three days go by without coming to the shelter to visually inspect the dogs and cats in its care. Reclaim hours are Monday–Saturday, 11 AM–6 PM.
Found a Dog or Cat in Pinellas County?
First: try to find the owner
Keep identifying tags attached, check nearby homes and safely have the animal scanned for a microchip when possible. Post a found report through the County’s recommended lost/found system.
If the owner cannot be found
Call Pinellas County Animal Services at 727-582-2600 for the appropriate next step. Do not assume a private rescue or neighboring county is the correct intake jurisdiction.
Animal Control, Emergency & Important Contacts
| Problem | Contact | Correct use |
|---|---|---|
| Routine Animal Services / animal concern |
727-582-2600
Option 4 |
Loose dogs, barking, animal-welfare concerns and normal Animal Control routing. |
| Customer Service |
727-582-2600
Option 8 |
Adoption, reclaim, lost-pet match and general shelter help. |
| Immediate police, fire or medical emergency | 911 | Use when someone’s life is in danger or immediate emergency response is required. |
| Possible human rabies exposure | 727-824-6932 | Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County rabies-exposure reporting. |
Reporting Animal Welfare or Abuse Concerns
Pinellas County accepts animal-welfare and public-safety concerns, but Florida complaint-identification rules affect how ordinary code investigations can begin.
Provide useful location details
For an animal-welfare concern, the County asks for your address and the address where the concern is occurring.
Anonymous complaint limitation
The County states that it generally cannot use an anonymous complaint to initiate an investigation unless there is an imminent threat to public health, safety or welfare.
Use the official Animal Services contact form for documented non-emergency concerns.
Animal Bite, Scratch or Possible Rabies Exposure
Take care of the human injury first
Medical evaluation takes priority when a bite or scratch may have exposed a person to rabies or caused a significant injury.
Report the possible rabies exposure
Contact the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County at 727-824-6932.
Contact Animal Services about the animal
Call 727-582-2600, option 4 for the animal-control side of the incident.
Pinellas County Dog & Cat License Fees
Pinellas County requires pet licenses for dogs and cats. Dogs and cats older than four months need a rabies vaccination or qualifying veterinarian exemption documentation to obtain the license.
| License item | Current fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year license | $24 | License expiration follows the pet’s rabies vaccination expiration. |
| 3-year license | $48 | County recommends three-year rabies vaccination when appropriate. |
| Replacement tag | $5 | Replacement uses the pet’s existing permanent tag number. |
Get current rabies documentation
Dogs and cats over four months require current rabies proof or an applicable veterinarian exemption letter for licensing.
Use Animal Services or a participating veterinarian
Open the official County license page for Animal Services/mail instructions, or use the County’s current participating veterinarian reseller list.
Keep owner information current
Licensing and microchip records can help PCAS contact you when a lost animal arrives at the shelter.
Rabies Vaccines & Microchips: Limited Public Service
PCAS is not a general public veterinary hospital for routine owned-pet medical appointments, but the County does publish a limited low-cost vaccination and microchip service.
Rabies vaccination appointments
Current County licensing information lists rabies vaccinations at Animal Services on Wednesdays from 1 PM–3 PM, by appointment only.
Low-cost microchips
The current County community-resource page also lists low-cost microchips during the Wednesday 1–3 PM appointment service.
A current exact public microchip/rabies appointment price was not verified on the pages reviewed for this article, so no price is guessed here.
Need to Surrender Your Own Pet? Call Before Going
Pinellas County Animal Services is not publishing a guaranteed walk-in owner-surrender intake schedule. Current County guidance says space is limited and owner surrenders are accepted case by case.
Look at alternatives first
The County recommends considering direct rehoming, food assistance, behavior support and medical resources when those options could keep the pet safely out of a shelter.
Call PCAS before coming
Call 727-582-2600 before driving to the shelter. Explain why surrender is needed and ask whether PCAS has capacity or recommends another safe route.
Prepare honest medical and behavior information
Have veterinary records, medications, bite history, behavior history and other information that may affect safe placement ready.
Pinellas Animal Services Medical Hospital: What It Actually Means
New onsite medical hospital
Pinellas County opened a new Animal Services medical hospital next to the existing shelter facility in 2025. The larger space added surgical capacity, radiology/X-ray capability and improved recovery and isolation areas.
The County’s About page also states that a licensed veterinarian performs surgical procedures including spay/neuter for animals in Animal Services care.
Not a general public veterinary practice
Pinellas County’s 2026 scam alert explicitly says Animal Services does not provide public veterinary services.
The Wednesday rabies/microchip appointment program described above is a limited public service; it should not be confused with a full-service public veterinary clinic.
No current public veterinarian name, routine doctor schedule or general examination fee was verified for PCAS, so this article does not invent one.
2026 Warning: Fake Pinellas Animal Control Officer Calls
Caller ID can be spoofed
A call can appear to come from an official-looking number. Do not trust the displayed caller ID by itself.
Verify independently
Hang up and call Animal Services through its known County number, 727-582-2600. The County alert directs victims of the scam to report it to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-6200.
Pinellas-Specific Hurricane Planning With Pets
In coastal Pinellas County, pet planning is not optional when evacuation orders are issued. The County tells residents to take pets with them rather than leaving animals behind in an evacuation area.
Keep identification current
Maintain the pet’s microchip, County license and vaccination information before storm season.
Prepare a carrier and supplies
Pinellas pet-friendly shelters require pets to be housed in a carrier or crate. Prepare food, water, medications, documents and basic pet supplies.
Check which shelters actually open
Not every public shelter opens for every storm. Use the County’s current pet emergency-planning page when an evacuation is announced.
Nearby Florida Shelter Guides: Use the Correct Jurisdiction
The nearest shelter is not always the agency responsible for a found animal. These guides cover other nearby Tampa Bay and Gulf Coast jurisdictions.
Pet Pal — St. Petersburg
Pet Pal is a separate nonprofit adoption shelter, not Pinellas County Animal Control. See the Pet Pal Animal Shelter guide if that is the organization you meant.
Tampa / Hillsborough County
An animal found across the county line in Hillsborough belongs in a different public-shelter system. Use the Tampa Animal Shelter & Control guide .
Pasco County
For animals in Pasco County, use the Pasco County Animal Shelter & Control guide rather than assuming Pinellas County handles the case.
Sarasota County
Farther south on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the public shelter and Animal Control structure is different again. See the Sarasota Animal Shelter & Control guide .
Map to Pinellas County Animal Services
12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774. If you are traveling for one particular animal or a surrender request, call first so the trip is not based on stale availability or capacity.
Official Pinellas County Animal Resources
The actionable details are summarized above. Use these first-party pages for live animal availability, forms, current promotions and day-of updates.
Pinellas Animal Shelter FAQ: 10 Common Questions
1. Where is Pinellas County Animal Services?
Pinellas County Animal Services is at 12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774. The main telephone number is 727-582-2600.
2. What are Pinellas County Animal Services adoption hours in 2026?
Current Adoption Center hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 AM–6 PM. Reclaim hours are the same. Customer-service phone hours are Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5:30 PM. The shelter is closed on County holidays.
3. How much does it cost to adopt a dog from Pinellas County Animal Services?
The current County page lists large-breed dogs at $50, small-breed dogs under 25 pounds at $100 and puppies age six months or younger at $100. Ongoing discounts may change the final eligible fee.
4. How much does it cost to adopt a cat in Pinellas County?
The current PCAS fee is $40 for cats and $50 for kittens age six months or younger.
5. What is included in a Pinellas County Animal Services adoption?
Adoptable animals are spayed or neutered and come with a microchip with free lifetime registration, age-appropriate vaccinations, a one-year Pinellas County pet license, a bag of pet food and a toy or treat.
6. What should I do if my dog or cat is lost in Pinellas County?
Search the immediate area, update the microchip registry, use Petco Love Lost, monitor animals in PCAS care and contact Customer Service at 727-582-2600 option 8 when you see a possible match. PCAS advises owners not to let three days pass without an in-person visual shelter inspection.
7. What number do I call for Pinellas County Animal Control?
Call Pinellas County Animal Services at 727-582-2600 and select option 4 for animal concerns. Call 911 for an immediate police, fire or medical emergency.
8. How do I report an animal bite or possible rabies exposure in Pinellas County?
Seek medical attention when needed. Report possible human rabies exposure to the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County at 727-824-6932 and contact Pinellas County Animal Services at 727-582-2600 for the animal-control portion of the incident.
9. How much is a Pinellas County dog or cat license?
Current County license fees are $24 for one year and $48 for three years. A replacement license tag is $5. Dogs and cats older than four months require rabies documentation or a qualifying veterinarian exemption for licensing.
10. Does Pinellas County Animal Services operate a public veterinary clinic?
PCAS has an onsite medical hospital and veterinary staff for shelter animals, but the County says Animal Services does not provide general public veterinary services. A limited public program offers low-cost rabies vaccination and microchip appointments on Wednesdays from 1 PM–3 PM by appointment.
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.