San Diego Animal Shelter & Control Guide: Adoption Hours, Fees, Lost Pets, Dispatch, Video & Map
Use this San Diego animal shelter guide for the official San Diego Humane Society campus address, adoption hours, animal-control reporting route, adoption fees, lost-and-found pet steps, surrender guidance, licensing notes, video guide, map, and practical before-you-visit checklist.
Adoptions / mailing address 5500 Gaines St., San Diego, CA 92110
Adoption hours 10 AM – 5 PM
Animal-related concerns 619-299-7012 ext. 1
Quick Answer: Which San Diego animal shelter should most city residents use?
For the City of San Diego, San Diego Humane Society is the primary animal services and animal-control partner. The San Diego Campus for adoptions is listed at 5500 Gaines St., San Diego, CA 92110. For animal-related concerns, the City lists 619-299-7012 ext. 1, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Choose what you need today
Pick your situation first. San Diego animal services can be confusing because sheltering, humane law enforcement, licensing, lost pets, and county services may use different official routes.
Verified San Diego animal shelter details
Video Guide: San Diego Humane Society adoption and shelter context
This video section is included because many visitors want to understand San Diego Humane Society’s shelter environment, adoption demand, and available-pet situation before they visit. The selected video is directly related to San Diego Humane Society adoption intent and helps users prepare before contacting or visiting.
San Diego animal shelter adoption process: how to adopt from SDHS
For most City of San Diego visitors, the adoption route starts with San Diego Humane Society’s available-pets page. Look up pets before arriving, but remember that animal availability can change quickly. If a pet is adopted, transferred, placed in foster, or temporarily unavailable, staff may guide you toward other suitable animals.
Check dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals on SDHS’s current listing. Write down names, animal IDs, campus, and notes before you leave.
San Diego Humane Society has multiple campuses. Make sure the pet is at the San Diego Campus or the correct listed campus before driving.
The San Diego Campus adoption hours are listed as 10 AM to 5 PM. General business hours may be longer than final adoption processing.
Ask about age, health notes, behavior, children, other pets, training, energy level, medical follow-up, and expected adjustment time.
Cats need a secure carrier. Dogs need safe leash and vehicle control. Do not plan to carry a nervous pet loose through a parking lot.
Ask what records you receive, whether vaccines are current, whether microchip information must be updated, and what support is available after adoption.
San Diego Humane Society adoption fees 2026
San Diego Humane Society’s official adoption-fee page lists standard adoption fees by animal type. Promotions may reduce or waive fees, and the City of San Diego notes SDHS may waive fees in whole or in part as part of operations with City approval. Confirm current pricing on the official page before adoption day.
| Animal type | Official fee listed | Before adopting, ask this |
|---|---|---|
| Dog | $165 | Ask about behavior notes, leash skills, energy, medical needs, and compatibility with children or other pets. |
| Puppy | $275 | Ask about vaccine schedule, training needs, expected adult size, and spay/neuter or follow-up requirements. |
| Cat | $115 | Ask about litter habits, hiding, comfort with other cats, dogs, children, and transition needs. |
| Kitten | $175 | Ask whether a single kitten or bonded pair is better for your home and whether the kitten is ready to go home. |
| Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, large birds, reptiles | $35 | Ask about habitat needs, diet, handling, veterinary care, and whether the animal is beginner-friendly. |
Before you visit the San Diego Campus: adoption checklist
Lost dog or cat in San Diego: what to do first
If your pet is missing in the City of San Diego, start with San Diego Humane Society and act quickly. The City page says lost/found pet visitors should visit SDHS during operating hours and bring a picture of the pet if available.
Use the official lost/found pet route and check shelters during operating hours. Do not rely only on social media.
If you visit the shelter, bring recent photos showing the pet’s face, body, markings, collar, and any unique features.
If your pet is microchipped, update phone and email information. Use AAHA’s Universal Pet Microchip Lookup if you do not know the registry.
San Diego County has several shelter systems and campuses. Check the correct city/county route for where the pet was lost.
Walk the area, check alleys, garages, under decks, canyons, apartment complexes, parking lots, and places a frightened pet may hide.
Photos, vet records, license records, rabies certificate, microchip registration, or adoption paperwork can help when reclaiming a pet.
Found a pet in San Diego: safe steps before keeping, posting, or rehoming
Finding a pet does not mean the animal is abandoned. A lost indoor cat, frightened dog, or escaped pet may look dirty or neglected after a short time outside. Use a safe, owner-focused process before making decisions.
Surrendering or rehoming a pet in San Diego
Owner surrender should be the last step after you understand available support, rehoming options, appointment requirements, and possible outcomes. San Diego Humane Society offers community support services that may help some owners keep pets at home through food, supplies, veterinary support, training resources, or other assistance.
San Diego animal control: report cruelty, dangerous animals, bites and animal-related concerns
The City of San Diego says animal-related concerns can be reported to San Diego Humane Society at 619-299-7012 ext. 1, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For imminent danger, active cruelty, or danger to animals or humans, use the urgent dispatch route or 911 when human life is at risk.
Licensing, microchips, vaccines and pet-owner services
The City of San Diego animal services page notes that SDHS supports services such as dog licensing, pet reunification, microchipping, spay/neuter services, vaccinations, sheltering, medical care, educational programs and disaster relief. Some services may require appointments or separate official pages.
Call scripts for San Diego animal shelter and animal control needs
A clear script helps staff route your situation faster.
Adoption: “Hi, I’m interested in a pet listed on the SDHS website. The pet name or ID is [name/ID]. Is this pet still at the San Diego Campus, and what should I bring if I visit today?”
Lost pet: “Hi, my [dog/cat] is missing from [neighborhood or cross streets]. The pet is [description] and may have [microchip/collar]. What is the fastest way to check SDHS and file a lost report?”
Found pet: “Hi, I found a [dog/cat] near [location]. It is [description]. Should I bring the pet in, file a found report, or contact animal-related concern dispatch?”
Animal-related concern: “Hi, I need to report [cruelty concern/aggressive animal/injured animal/bite]. The location is [location]. Is this an emergency, and what should I do next?”
San Diego Humane Society map and visit planning
The San Diego Campus adoption and mailing address is listed as 5500 Gaines St., San Diego, CA 92110. Confirm the campus and service hours before leaving because San Diego Humane Society has multiple campuses and services can vary by location.
Official San Diego animal shelter links
Common mistakes to avoid
San Diego Animal Shelter FAQs
The City of San Diego coordinates animal services with San Diego Humane Society, which serves as its primary animal control agency. The main San Diego Campus adoption address is 5500 Gaines St., San Diego, CA 92110.
The main phone number is 619-299-7012. For City of San Diego animal-related concerns, the City lists 619-299-7012 ext. 1.
The San Diego Campus adoption hours are listed as 10 AM to 5 PM. General business hours are listed as 10 AM to 6 PM. Confirm before visiting.
The adoption and mailing address is 5500 Gaines St., San Diego, CA 92110. The nearby general business address is also commonly listed around Gaines Street for the campus area.
Standard listed fees include $165 for dogs, $275 for puppies, $115 for cats, $175 for kittens, and $35 for several small or exotic pet categories. Confirm current fees and promotions directly with SDHS.
Start with SDHS lost-and-found resources, visit during operating hours, bring a photo, update your pet’s microchip registry, check nearby shelters, and search physically in the area where the pet was lost.
For City of San Diego animal-related concerns, call San Diego Humane Society Humane Law Enforcement dispatch at 619-299-7012 ext. 1. Call 911 for human life-threatening emergencies.
The City says non-emergency leash-law violations in parks and on beaches should be directed to the Parks and Recreation Department through the Get It Done platform.
Call SDHS before bringing a pet. Ask about surrender process, appointments, support services, rehoming resources, and alternatives that may help you keep your pet safely at home.
Yes. The City of San Diego animal services page notes dog licensing through SDHS and DocuPet. Dogs four months and older must have a valid license.
No. San Diego Humane Society serves the City of San Diego and several other cities, while County Animal Services handles unincorporated county areas and certain county shelter locations. Check the official route for your exact location.
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent directory guide. The official San Diego Humane Society website is sdhumane.org, and the City of San Diego animal services page is on sandiego.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.