San Jose Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
Use this guide to plan adoption, lost-pet reclaim, stray animal reporting, surrender alternatives, fees, volunteer help and directions for the City of San José Animal Care Center.
San Jose Animal Shelter & Control searches usually mean one urgent need: adopt a dog or cat, check animal shelter hours, find a lost pet, report a stray animal, confirm fees, or get to the correct official City of San José Animal Care Center page fast. This 2026 guide covers the practical details in one place: the Monterey Road shelter address, adoption hours versus general center hours, pet ID lookup steps, dog and cat adoption fees, reclaim costs, animal control phone guidance, lost/found pet actions, surrender limits, map directions and the official links to verify before you leave home.
San Jose Animal Shelter Quick Details
| Item | Current practical detail | What to do before visiting |
|---|---|---|
| Official shelter | City of San José Animal Care & Services Center | Use the City’s official Animal Care & Services pages for live rules. |
| Address | 2750 Monterey Rd, San José, CA 95111 | Use map directions and allow time for parking/check-in. |
| Phone | 408-794-PAWS / 408-794-7297 | Call for animal-control pickup, urgent service questions or lost/found guidance. |
| Adoption style | In-person adoptions and fosters, first come first served | Search Pet Compass, save animal ID, then arrive during adoption hours. |
| Field service cities | San José, Cupertino, Milpitas and Saratoga | If you live elsewhere, use your own city or county animal agency. |
What San Jose Animal Shelter & Control Handles
The San José Animal Care Center is more than an adoption desk. Residents use it for adoptable dogs, cats and small animals, foster questions, lost-pet searches, found-pet reporting, reclaim fees, stray dog pickup, injured stray cat pickup, animal service requests, pet licensing, owner surrender guidance, community cats, volunteering and donations.
San Jose Animal Shelter Adoption Hours 2026
Do not confuse general center hours with adoption processing hours. General hours show when the center is open; adoption processing ends earlier so staff have time to complete the visit, paperwork and matching process.
| Day | General center hours | Adoption processing hours | Visitor advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Noon–4 p.m. | Noon–3:30 p.m. | Short window. Arrive early if you need to meet pets and complete paperwork. |
| Tuesday–Friday | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | Best weekday window. Still confirm pet status before traveling. |
| Saturday–Sunday | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Expect more visitors. Bring backup pet choices. |
How to Adopt a Dog or Cat from San Jose Animal Care Center
The City says adoptions and fosters are done in person at 2750 Monterey Road and processed first come, first served. Online pet listings are planning tools, not a reservation. A dog, cat or small animal can be adopted, reclaimed, moved to foster, transferred or temporarily unavailable before you arrive.
Browse pets online and save the animal ID
Start with Pet Compass or the City’s dog, cat and small-animal adoption pages. Write down the pet’s ID, which starts with “A.” Use the ID instead of only the pet name because names can repeat or change.
Check whether the pet is in shelter or foster
If a pet is not physically at the shelter, do not assume you can meet it by walking in. Follow the listing instructions and keep a backup list of pets you would also consider.
Bring photo ID and household readiness
Adopters must be over 18 and have photo ID. Prepare landlord or HOA permission if relevant, resident-pet information, payment method, and a safe carrier, leash, harness or crate setup.
Bring your current dog for dog-to-dog compatibility
If you already have a dog and want to adopt another dog, the City strongly encourages arranging an introduction at the Animal Care Center. Compatibility issues can stop a rushed adoption.
Ask the practical questions before you say yes
Ask about vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip, license, behavior notes, kennel stress, medical needs, foster notes, return/trial rules and what the first seven days at home should look like.
San Jose Animal Shelter Adoption Fees
The official City fee page says dog and cat adoption fees include spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations and microchipping. Dogs or cats in the City’s jurisdiction that received rabies vaccination at adoption may include a license valid up to one year. Rabbit adoption fees include microchipping.
| Pet category | Published fee | Micro-detail to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Puppies under 6 months | $135 | Ask about vaccine schedule, spay/neuter status, crate training and first vet visit timing. |
| Dogs under 6 years | $120 | Ask about behavior notes, dog introductions, leash handling and license inclusion. |
| Dogs over 6 years | $65 | Ask about senior care, medication, mobility and home adjustment needs. |
| Senior 65+ adopting dog over 3 years | $40 | Bring ID and confirm discount eligibility. |
| Dogs over 30 pounds | No fees | Verify same-day because promotions and shelter capacity policies may change. |
| Kittens under 6 months | $100; two kittens together listed as $100 total | Ask about bonded pairs, vaccines, spay/neuter and kitten-proofing. |
| Cats 6 months to 6 years | $80 | Ask about litter habits, shy behavior, other cats/dogs and carrier needs. |
| Cats over 6 years | $35 | Ask about senior cat care, medical notes and transition plan. |
| Senior 65+ adopting cat over 3 years | $25 | Bring ID and confirm eligibility at the front desk. |
| Rabbits / guinea pigs / hamsters or mice | $20 / $10 / $5 | Ask about housing, handling, diet and safe transport. |
| United States military veterans | Adoption fees waived with identification | Bring veteran ID and verify the current rule before checkout. |
Before You Visit the San Jose Animal Care Center
This is the section most people skip, and it is where wasted trips happen. Prepare before you leave home.
Lost Pets in San Jose: What to Do First
If your pet is missing, move fast and repeat the search daily. The City says pets brought to the San José Animal Care Center are scanned for a microchip and photos are posted on the website. Pet listings can update, so do not check once and stop.
Lost Pet Checklist
- Search Pet Compass immediately and repeat checks.
- Update your microchip contact information.
- Call or visit the shelter if you see a possible match.
- Save the animal ID number from the listing.
- Walk the area where the pet disappeared, especially quiet times.
- Post clear photos in neighborhood groups and local lost/found pages.
- Check nearby shelters if your pet could cross city boundaries.
Found a Pet in San Jose: Don’t Skip These Steps
If you found a pet, the goal is safe reunion, not just “getting the animal out of your hands.” The City says sick or injured animals will always be accepted, but also asks the community to avoid bringing healthy stray dogs when possible because kennels are over capacity. Found-pet rules can change, so use the official page before transporting an animal.
Never abandon an animal outside the shelter after hours. That can put the animal at risk and may create problems for the finder.
San Jose Animal Control: Stray Dogs, Injured Cats, and Reports
San José Animal Control field services serve San José, Cupertino, Milpitas and Saratoga. The City tells residents to call, not submit an online report, for aggressive stray dogs, injured/sick animals, confined animals, animal bites to humans and noisy-animal complaints in San José.
| Situation | Best action | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Aggressive stray dog | Call 408-794-7297 | Do not approach or trap if unsafe. |
| Injured stray cat or animal | Call 408-794-7297 | Animal Control can advise pickup or safe next step. |
| Animal bite to a human | Call the correct official/emergency route | Use emergency services if immediate danger exists. |
| Loose dog currently at large | Use City instructions and online report when appropriate | Describe location, direction, condition and timing clearly. |
| Dead animal or non-urgent humane condition | Use the City animal service request route | Complete each complaint type separately to avoid delay. |
Field operation hours: the City page lists daily field operation hours as 7 a.m.–9 p.m. For sick or injured animals before or after those hours, the City says to contact the local police department route.
Reclaim Fees and What Owners Should Expect
If your pet is at the shelter, reclaim can include more than one fee. The City lists impound, boarding, transaction, officer pickup, microchip, rabies vaccination and possible state fine categories. Staff may assess required fees based on the case.
| Reclaim fee type | Published amount | Owner planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Impound fee | $45 dog / $45 cat | Bring ID and proof of ownership. |
| Boarding fee | $25 per day or any part thereof | Fees increase with time, so search quickly. |
| Transaction fee | $30 | Budget for this in addition to impound/boarding. |
| Officer pickup fee | $85 dog / $85 cat | Applies if picked up by officer. |
| Microchip fee | $25 | State law requires shelters to microchip cats and dogs adopted or returned to owners. |
| Rabies vaccination fee | $6 if not up to date | Bring vaccination proof if you have it. |
| State fine for unaltered pet | $35 / $50 / $100 tiered | Bring veterinary proof of spay/neuter if applicable. |
Pet Surrender at San Jose Animal Care Center
Do not assume you can walk in and surrender a healthy pet. The City says kennels are over capacity and asks owners to try rehoming within their network. It also says it can only accept certain sick, injured or pregnant stray cats/kittens and sick, injured or pregnant stray pets at this time.
Volunteer, Foster, Donate, and Shelter Support
San José ACS says volunteers help with dog walking, cat and small animal socialization, enrichment, kennel support, laundry, dishes, restocking, fostering and more. Volunteer applicants attend orientation, complete an application and training, and must meet minimum requirements.
Official San Jose Animal Shelter Links
Use these official sources for final live action. This guide gives you the full plan, but the official City pages control current hours, fees, animal listings, forms and emergency instructions.
Common Mistakes People Make
Map to San José Animal Care Center
Use this map for directions to 2750 Monterey Rd, San José, CA 95111. Confirm live hours and service rules on the official City website before traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official San Jose animal shelter?
The official public shelter is the City of San José Animal Care & Services Center at 2750 Monterey Rd, San José, CA 95111.
What are San Jose animal shelter adoption hours?
Adoption processing is listed as Monday noon–3:30 p.m., Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Verify same-day before visiting.
What are the general Animal Care Center hours?
The City lists center hours as Monday noon–4 p.m., Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
What phone number should I call for San Jose Animal Control?
Call 408-794-7297 for San José Animal Care & Services animal-control guidance, including stray dog pickup or injured stray cat pickup.
Are San Jose shelter adoptions done online?
No. The City says adoptions and fosters are done in person at the Animal Care Center and processed first come, first served.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog in San Jose?
Published dog fees include $135 for puppies under six months, $120 for dogs under six years, $65 for dogs over six years, $40 for seniors 65+ adopting dogs over three years, and no fees for dogs over 30 pounds. Verify the current fee page before payment.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat in San Jose?
Published cat fees include $100 for kittens under six months, $80 for cats six months to six years, $35 for cats over six years, and $25 for seniors 65+ adopting cats over three years. Verify current fees before visiting.
What should I bring to reclaim a lost pet?
Bring photo ID, recent pet photos, microchip details, vet records, rabies certificate, license or adoption paperwork, and the animal ID or listing screenshot if you found your pet online.
Can I surrender a pet at the San Jose shelter?
Do not assume walk-in surrender is available. The City says kennels are over capacity and asks owners to try rehoming resources and check official surrender guidance first.
Does San Jose Animal Care Center accept volunteers?
Yes, but volunteers must follow the official orientation, application and training process. Minimum requirements include Santa Clara County residency and a time commitment.
Final Takeaway
San Jose Animal Shelter & Control services are centered at the City of San José Animal Care & Services Center on Monterey Road. For adoption, search Pet Compass, save the animal ID, bring photo ID and arrive during adoption processing hours. For lost pets, search “Stray Wait,” update microchip records and bring proof to reclaim. For aggressive, injured or unsafe animals, use the animal-control phone route instead of trying to handle the animal yourself.
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.