Santa Barbara Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
This guide is for Santa Barbara County Animal Services and City of Santa Barbara Animal Control questions: adoption hours, shelter locations, lost/found pets, animal complaints, licensing, reclaim steps, after-hours routing, and official links.
Important: “Santa Barbara animal shelter” can mean the county shelter in Goleta, the Lompoc shelter, the Santa Maria shelter, or City Animal Control. Use the table below before calling or driving.
Santa Barbara Animal Help Menu
- Clickable action cards
- Shelter locations and hours
- Who to call first
- Adoption micro-steps
- Fees and what to verify
- Lost and found pets
- Reclaiming a pet
- City Animal Control
- Licensing and PetSafe
- Bites, danger and public safety
- Community cats
- Rehome / surrender route
- Before you go
- Call scripts
- Map
- Official links
- 10 FAQs
Clickable Santa Barbara Animal Help Cards
Start with the card that matches your situation. This avoids calling the wrong shelter, rescue, or city office.
Shelter Locations, Adoption Hours and Phones
Santa Barbara County Animal Services has three shelter locations. Call the correct location before driving if the pet is time-sensitive or you need intake/reclaim help.
| Location | Address | Phone | Public hours / best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara Shelter | 5473 Overpass Road, Goleta/Santa Barbara area, CA 93111 | 805-681-5285 | Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. Use for South County adoption, lost/found, reclaim and county animal shelter questions. |
| Lompoc Animal Shelter | 1501 W. Central Ave., Lompoc, CA 93436 | 805-737-7755 | Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. Use for Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley county animal service routing. |
| Santa Maria Animal Center | 548 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria, CA 93455 | 805-934-6119 | Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. Use for North County adoption, found pet, reclaim and shelter questions. |
Who to Call First
Use this quick table before driving. Santa Barbara City Animal Control and Santa Barbara County Animal Services are not the same desk.
| Situation | Call / click | What to say | Next micro-step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adopt from county shelter | Adoptable Animal Search | “Is [animal ID/name] still available, and which shelter is housing the animal?” | Confirm location before driving. |
| Lost pet in Santa Barbara/Goleta area | 805-681-5285 | “My pet is missing near [cross streets]. Has a matching animal been brought in?” | File report and check in person if possible. |
| Animal Control inside Santa Barbara City limits | 805-882-8900 | “This animal control issue is inside City limits at [address].” | Give danger level, animal description and location. |
| County area outside City limits | 805-681-5285 | “This is outside Santa Barbara City limits in [area]. Which officer route should I use?” | Ask whether South County, Lompoc or Santa Maria location handles it. |
| Animal bite or dangerous animal | City dispatch if in City / county shelter if outside City | “There was a bite/dangerous animal at [location].” | Get medical help when needed; follow bite-report instructions. |
| After-hours animal issue | 911 if emergency or 805-882-8900 City dispatch | “This is after hours and the animal is [injured/dangerous/traffic hazard].” | Do not handle unsafe animals. |
Adoption Micro-Steps
The county adoption pages separate animals by type. Use the animal ID and shelter location before planning the visit.
Open the county adoption search
Start at Adoptable Animal Search. It links to dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals at all shelters.
Save the animal ID and location
Do not rely only on the animal name. Save ID, species, breed, age estimate and which shelter is housing the animal.
Call the shelter before driving
Availability can change. Call the housing location and ask whether the animal is still available and whether a meet-and-greet is possible that day.
Prepare home and transport
Bring a secure carrier for cats/rabbits/small pets and a leash/harness/crate plan for dogs.
Ask the right questions
Ask about rabies status, spay/neuter status, microchip, behavior notes, medical notes, food, exercise needs and any post-adoption instructions.
Keep your paperwork
Keep adoption receipt, vaccination paperwork, microchip information, license proof and spay/neuter documents in one folder.
Adoption Fees and What to Verify
County adoption fees, adoption specials, spay/neuter deposits and live animal availability can change. Use the official Fee Schedule and the animal’s current record before publishing a fee as final.
Check the Fee Schedule
The county Animal Services hub links a Fee Schedule. Use that page for current official fee verification before paying or publishing fixed amounts.
Spay/neuter rule
County ordinance states dogs and cats are not released for county adoption unless spayed or neutered, with limited health-based exceptions handled through required deposits/rules.
Vaccines and rabies
Ask whether rabies vaccination is current, whether other vaccines are age-appropriate, and what proof you receive with adoption paperwork.
Lost or Found Pet in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County recommends searching, posting clear photos, filing lost/found reports, checking shelter listings and using Petco Love Lost facial-recognition tools.
If your pet is lost
- Search nearby first: yard, garage, sheds, under cars, creek paths, neighbors’ porches and common walking routes.
- File a missing animal report through the county lost animal page.
- Call the likely shelter location and ask about matching animals.
- Check shelter listings every day; do not rely only on one online photo.
- Upload a clear photo to Petco Love Lost if available.
- Post clear photos online with cross streets, date, collar/tag, microchip and safe contact method.
- Visit the shelter in person when possible; City guidance says owners are responsible for checking the county shelter in person.
If you found a pet
- Check for ID only if it is safe to handle the animal.
- Scan for a microchip through a shelter or veterinary office if safe.
- File a found animal report.
- Post clear photos online and include where the pet was found.
- Keep found pets separate from your pets and children.
- For injured, aggressive, traffic-hazard or public-safety situations, call Animal Control/dispatch instead of handling.
- Use the shelter location that serves where the pet was found, not where you live.
Reclaiming an Impounded Pet
Do not wait for a callback only. Reclaiming depends on correct location, timing, proof and fees.
Move fast
City Animal Control says stray animals are held 72 hours for owner redemption before adoption placement.
Bring ownership proof
Bring photos, vet records, microchip details, license tag proof, adoption paperwork or rabies certificate.
Ask exact fees
Impound, boarding, citation, license or vaccination fees may apply. Confirm current fees before arriving.
License helps
Project PetSafe says a pet license acts as both identification and proof of rabies vaccination, helping lost pets get home.
Confirm shelter
Call the shelter serving the pickup area. The pet may not be at the closest location to your home.
Call first
For Santa Barbara/Goleta area, start with 805-681-5285. For City Animal Control dispatch, call 805-882-8900.
City of Santa Barbara Animal Control
Inside City limits, City Animal Control is handled through the Santa Barbara Police Department route. Outside City limits, contact Santa Barbara County Animal Services.
| City issue | Call / route | What City Animal Control says to report |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Control emergency | 805-882-8900 | City dispatch center handles Animal Control emergencies, including after hours. |
| Animal bite | 805-882-8900 | Provide animal type, description, owner info if known, bite time/place and license/tag details if available. |
| Injured animal | 805-882-8900 | Call if you see an injured animal. If the owner is present, City guidance says the owner is responsible for transport to a veterinarian. |
| Loose livestock / traffic hazard | 805-882-8900 | Report dead, alive or injured animals creating traffic hazards or dangerous human-safety situations. |
| Animal nuisance / disturbance | 805-882-8900 | Noise complaints, sanitation problems, mistreatment, neglect or other animal-related problems. |
| County area outside City limits | 805-681-5285 | City page says outside City limits, contact Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter at 805-681-5285. |
Licensing, Microchips and Project PetSafe
Project PetSafe turns pet ownership into four simple safety actions: vaccinate, license, spay/neuter and microchip.
Vaccinate
Keep required vaccines current. Ask your veterinarian which vaccines are needed for your pet.
License
County guidance says dogs over 4 months and unaltered cats over 6 months must be licensed and vaccinated for rabies.
Spay / Neuter
Spay/neuter helps prevent unwanted litters and can lower licensing fees.
Microchip
A microchip gives permanent identification and helps shelters/vets reunite lost pets with owners.
Bites, Rabies and Dangerous Animal Issues
Animal bites and rabies exposure are public-safety matters. Do not solve them through social media only.
Report bites
City regulations require reporting animal bites. Be ready with animal description, owner details if known, time and place of bite.
Isolation may apply
City rules describe isolation of biting animals for up to 10 days depending on vaccination/license status and health authority direction.
Do not handle danger
If the animal is aggressive, injured, blocking traffic or creating danger, call dispatch/Animal Control instead of trying to catch it yourself.
Community Cats, Kittens and Other Animals
Santa Barbara County Animal Services has dedicated pages for cats, rabbits, other animals, community cat resources and rabbit vaccination.
Cats
Use the county cat adoption page and community cat resources before trapping or relocating cats.
Rabbits
The county adoption hub links rabbit adoptions and rabbit vaccination information. Ask about care needs before adopting.
Other animals
The county adoption hub includes other animals. Confirm species-specific housing, diet, veterinary and legal needs first.
Rehome or Surrender a Pet
The county Animal Services hub links “Rehome a Pet.” Use rehome/help resources before surrender when the issue may be temporary.
Try help before surrender
- Ask about pet food, vaccine, microchip or spay/neuter support resources.
- Check whether behavior, housing, cost or medical concerns can be solved with partner help.
- Use safe rehome options when surrender is not urgent.
- Never abandon an animal outside a shelter or in public.
Call before bringing a pet
- Call the correct shelter location first.
- Ask what intake information, appointment, records or forms are needed.
- Bring medical/vaccine records and honest behavior notes.
- Ask whether the county can connect you to rehome or support resources.
Before You Leave Home
Animal ID, shelter location, carrier/leash, payment method, renter approval, household decision-maker.
Recent photo, microchip number, license tag, rabies proof, last-seen cross streets and owner ID.
Ownership proof, rabies/license records, payment, exact shelter location and fast timing.
Exact address, animal description, danger level, time of incident and photos only if safe.
Copy/Paste Call Scripts
Adoption
Hi, I’m interested in [animal name/ID]. Is this animal still available, which shelter is housing them, and what should I bring today?Lost pet
Hi, my [dog/cat/other pet] is missing near [cross streets]. Description: [color/size/collar/microchip]. Has a matching animal been brought in?Found pet
Hi, I found a [dog/cat/other animal] near [exact location]. The animal is [safe/injured/aggressive]. I can/cannot hold it safely. Which route should I use?City animal control
Hi, I need to report [bite/injured animal/loose livestock/nuisance/traffic hazard] inside Santa Barbara City limits at [address]. The situation is [urgent/not urgent].Map: Santa Barbara County Animal Services – Goleta/Santa Barbara Shelter
Use this map for the South County shelter. If the animal is in Lompoc or Santa Maria, confirm the exact location before driving.
Official Santa Barbara Animal Links
The key details are summarized above. Use these pages for live listings, current forms, fees and final verification.
Santa Barbara Animal Shelter FAQ
Which Santa Barbara animal shelter is this page about?
This page is mainly about Santa Barbara County Animal Services, including the county shelter at 5473 Overpass Road in the Goleta/Santa Barbara area, plus Lompoc and Santa Maria county shelter routes.
What are Santa Barbara County Animal Services adoption hours?
County guidance lists all three shelter locations as open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Call before driving because animal status, events and holidays can change.
What is the phone number for the Santa Barbara/Goleta county shelter?
The South County / Santa Barbara County Animal Services shelter phone number is 805-681-5285.
Where is the Santa Barbara County animal shelter near Santa Barbara?
The county Santa Barbara Shelter is at 5473 Overpass Road, Goleta/Santa Barbara area, CA 93111.
What number do I call for City of Santa Barbara Animal Control?
For City of Santa Barbara Animal Control emergencies and after-hours issues, the City lists Santa Barbara Police Dispatch Center at 805-882-8900.
How long are stray animals held in Santa Barbara?
City Animal Control guidance says stray animals are held for 72 hours for owner redemption and then placed up for adoption.
How do I report a lost pet in Santa Barbara County?
Use the county missing animal report page, call the shelter that serves your area, check shelter listings, post clear photos and visit in person when possible.
Do dogs need a license in Santa Barbara?
County Project PetSafe says dogs over 4 months must be licensed and vaccinated for rabies. City regulations also require dog licensing in the City of Santa Barbara.
Does the county have shelters outside Santa Barbara?
Yes. Santa Barbara County Animal Services also lists Lompoc Animal Shelter at 1501 W. Central Ave. and Santa Maria Animal Center at 548 W. Foster Road.
Are adoption fees listed here final?
No. Adoption fees, specials and deposits can change. Use the official county Fee Schedule and the live animal record to confirm the current fee before adopting.
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.