When you arrive at the Animal Care Center, you will be able to walk through the center to view animals that are marked as “Ready to Go Home.” A staff member or volunteer will be available to introduce you to the pet to see if it’s a perfect match. Once you have selected an animal for adoption, you will proceed to the front customer service area to process your adoption. You must be at least 18 years of age to adopt an animal. A current photo ID is required to process an adoption with proof of your current address.  The first person to complete the adoption will be able to take the pet home. Click here for more information on the adoption process.

AP Only means that the medical or behavior team has determined that the animal needs additional rehabilitation and recovery prior to being adopted into a home. In those instances, adoption is reserved for more than 200 Adoption Partners registered with DACC. These are 501(c)(3) nonprofits that operate to help adopt animals from shelters. These animals are not available for adoption to the general public. To learn more about our Adoption Partners visit our Adoption Partners page.

We conduct a full medical exam to determine if the animal is healthy enough to be placed into a new home, or requires medical care and rehabilitation first. We look at each dog who comes into our care as an individual, taking into consideration all the information we receive from the previous owner or person turning in (if the dog is a stray) as well as the behavior the dog exhibits while they are with us in the animal care center. We make observations of their behavior during their medical intake exam and then let them settle into the new environment. Only dogs over 35 lbs that score a 3 or higher on their intake exam are evaluated by BET and taken to playgroups after they have been in the care center for a few days. During dog playgroups, staff observe the dog’s behavior with the handlers and the other dogs. Based on the behavior observed and the information gathered from their prior home a recommendation is made on the type of home they would be best suited for. This may include a recommendation for an adult only home, a home without other animals, a calm home or an AP designation. The AP designation may be because the dog has a documented bite history and/or there is behavior observed that needs additional rehabilitation prior to public placement. This designation is not based on breed.

We are always in need of temporary fosters for the animals in our care. Visit the Foster Caretaker page to learn more and sign up for a virtual training. Keep in mind that we need help with large breed dogs, adult cats and underage kittens.

Managed intake refers to a thoughtful process where admission to our animal care centers is reserved for the animals in the community that need it most – those who are sick, injured or too aggressive to be in the community. Other animals such as healthy, adult cats, those who have a home and their owners need help to keep them, normally stay in the community and don’t come into the animal care centers. Managed intake allows animal care centers to be a resource for the community, providing low-cost and free vaccines, microchips, spay and neuter and other services.

Many cats that are found outdoors are owned, free-roaming cats allowed outside or are cats with an unspecified owner who are cared for by a caretaker or group of caretakers. Like all animals that live outdoors, free-roaming cats settle where food and shelter are available. They are skilled at finding these things on their own. These cats may be adults or kittens and can be friendly or unsocialized. It is important to leave community cats in the community to promote efforts to stabilize the cat population. Removal of cats within a community has shown to increase the population numbers. Instead, by spaying, neutering, and managing the community cats already in an area, this helps stabilize the population and over time reduces their numbers. This in turn results in more resources for the cats, less disease, less fighting/nuisance behaviors, and decreases new cats entering a given territory. Healthy, adult cats that are free roaming should NOT be brought to animal shelters. Shelters cause immense stress to cats and do not solve the problem of unwanted cats, because more will take their place. More than 50% of healthy, adult cats brought into shelters are euthanized. Instead, leave the cat where it is and click here to find out more about spay/neuter resources.

If the cat is sick or injured, please go to your closest animal care center for assistance.

Kittens have the best chance at survival when raised by their mom. When kittens are brought to an animal care center, they are prone to stress and exposure to illness, leading to failure to thrive and potential euthanasia as a result. The mother is usually close by, either hiding from the human or out hunting. It is recommended to wait a few hours and watch for mom to return. Kittens that are being cared for are clean with full bellies. Check out the ASPCA’s Found Kitten Tool to determine whether the kitten needs help.

If the kittens appear healthy but the mother has not returned, please consider fostering the kittens in your home until they are old enough to be adopted (approximately six to eight weeks). DACC can provide kitten fostering kits for kittens found in our service areas. You can also call our outreach helpline at 661-575-2812 to register the found kittens as a finder foster and get veterinary medical care for them. If you are unable to keep the kittens as a foster volunteer, make an appointment with your local animal care center to discuss other options. For more information on kittens, please click here.

If you would like to keep your pet and are having trouble with veterinary medical care, housing issues, animal behavior or accessing pet supplies, reach out to our outreach team (if you live in our service area) by email at access2care@animalcare.lacounty.gov or by calling our communication center at (562) 940-6898.

If you are still unable to keep your pet and need to rehome them, take these steps:

• Reach out to friends, family members and other acquaintances to rehome your pet.
• Use our Home to Home website to post your pet and connect with people who want to adopt.
• If you are unable to rehome your pet on your own, you may surrender them directly to one of our seven animal care centers — no appointment needed. Please visit https://locator.lacounty.gov/animal/shelters to locate the animal care center that serves your area.

Lost pets are more likely to be reunited with their owner if they stay in the area they are found. If you find a stray cat or dog, post fliers in the area, and on community apps like Next Door, Ring and Facebook. You can also take the pet to a shelter or veterinary clinic to get it scanned for a microchip. For a full list of resources, please click here.

We publish monthly statistics on our website that list animal intakes and outcomes. Note that we list data based on fiscal years, which run from July to June.

Follow DACC on social media and help spread the message about our programs – adoptions, lost & found, vaccinations, spay/neuter and more! We always need donations and supplies, find out more on our Donations page. Learn more about volunteering or becoming an adoption partner.

The Department will provide all the necessary food and supplies to foster parents. All you need to provide is a loving home!

Yes, so that you can receive proper support and medical assistance when needed, we require that those wishing to foster an animal from any of our six animal care centers live within 25 miles of their care center. We do not foster animals out to individuals living in other states or countries.

No, but you may be asked to dispense medicine to your foster, so you will have to be comfortable following veterinarian’s instruction if fostering a sick or injured animal.

Yes, but keep in mind that it is always a health risk to expose your animal to other animals. The health risk is minimal if your animals are current on their vaccinations, maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, and are not elderly or very young.

Fostering is a wonderful family experience and can build a foundation of philanthropy in your children. It is important to select an animal that is “age” appropriate with your children. You must also be diligent about providing guidance, instructions, and rules to your children about caring for an orphaned or special needs animal.

If your foster animal becomes available for adoption; foster caretakers get first priority to adopt their foster animal. As long as foster caretakers meet the animal care center requirements necessary for adoption and do not exceed the limit for owned animals in your city, you may adopt your foster animal.

Absolutely! Take pictures of them and show them to all the people you know would be responsible owners. Return them to the animal care center when they are ready and if you have time, be there on a busy day to show them off to the public. Bring them to the next community adoption event. DO NOT ever give the animal to anyone without having returned it to the animal care center for spay/neuter surgery (if needed), the proper paperwork and receipts completed.

Volunteers must be 16 years of age prior to attending an orientation.

Yes! Please visit the Youth Community Service Project page for more information.

We request (and the animals need you) for a minimum of two hours per week (eight hours per month) for a minimum initial commitment of nine months.

All volunteers will be provided with one volunteer shirt per year. If you would like additional shirts, you can purchase them for $15.00. Shirt sizes come in sizes S-XXXL. We also offer sweatshirts for $20.00 that come in S-XXL (optional).

Online electronic applications receive confirmation immediately after they are submitted. Please allow at least eight weeks for an orientation in your animal care center area. You will be notified of the next orientation scheduled in your area via email within two weeks prior to the scheduled orientation date.

Each animal care center has an orientation approximately every eight – twelve weeks or four to six classes a year (usually held on a Saturday). After you apply, the Volunteer Coordinator will email you to invite you with next steps. Due to the large number of existing volunteers enrolled, the Agoura Care Center holds two classes annually during the month of February and September.

Foster volunteers complete a separate onboarding and training process. For more details on how to become a foster, visit our Foster Caretaker page or email foster@animalcare.lacounty.gov

Your first training session will take place at the volunteer orientation where you will learn about dog and cat behavior and behaviors to look out for while you are working with the animals. More extensive training will take place at the animal care center. Each animal care center has a Volunteer Coordinator or Liaison and leadership volunteers that will arrange additional training.

Volunteers are strongly encouraged to have their own insurance coverage. However, the County of Los Angeles does provide some insurance benefits for volunteers.

Volunteers who will perform services in areas that are deemed sensitive will have to complete a live scan background check. You will be informed if your volunteer service requires a background check.

We cannot accept criminal history reports done through another department or agency. You will have to complete the live scan fingerprint process again through the Department.

Live Scan results can take anywhere from 3-30 days. We will notify you immediately once they have been received. If for whatever reason(s) your Live Scan does not clear or there is information obtained that would exclude you from being a volunteer for the department, we will let you know.

There are many other opportunities to help us meet our mission. Fostering animals that need extra TLC, fundraising, and volunteering at off-site adoption events are just a few examples. Please email us at: volunteer@animalcare.lacounty.gov for more information about other volunteer opportunities.

Foster volunteers complete a separate onboarding and training process. For more details on how to become a foster, visit our Foster Caretaker page or email foster@animalcare.lacounty.gov

This varies depending on the animal you are fostering. Unweaned animals can be anywhere from a couple days to eight weeks depending on their age at time of foster. Unless otherwise stated, foster commitments should not exceed three months. While in the home weaned animals may require three to six hours a day of dedicated care, injured animals two to three hours a day, bottle babies (un-weaned), eight hours a day (must be fed every two hours) and a mom with her litter, three hours a day.

The Department will provide all the necessary food and supplies to foster parents. All you need to provide is a loving home!

First, you need to make the necessary correction of the cause of violation that led to the issuance of the AC.

License Required – Visit your local Animal Care Center and obtain the required license registration for your pet. See license fee schedule for licensing fees. Click here for the list of animal care centers and locations.

Vaccination Requirements/Microchipping of dogs and cats – Visit your preferred veterinary clinic/hospital and make sure your animal is administered a microchip implant. The County of Los Angeles Animal Care Centers periodically hosts low-cost vaccination/microchip clinics. See vaccination clinic schedule for available times and dates for each care center. Clinics are scheduled events, not an everyday service of our care centers and is limited to the availability of a veterinarian. Make sure to call ahead of your visit.

Dogs at Large – Make sure your pet is confined and kept inside your premises at all times.

Excessive noise – Make sure the noise stops; see Suggestions on How to Reduce Animal Noise for suggestions on how to stop animal noise.

Second, you need to submit the payment of the AC using the envelope you received along with citation.

Payments must be made with thirty (30) calendar days of service of the citation. Failure to submit your payment may result in collections action and an additional $50 penalty being imposed. Unpaid fines may be forwarded to collections and adversely impact your credit.

Send your check, or if using a different envelope, write the citation number on the envelope and mail it to the following address:

Administrative Citation Program
Department of Animal Care and Control
5898 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90805

You may visit the nearest Animal Care Center and submit your payment. Click here for list of animal care centers location and hours of operations.

If you choose to submit your payment via mail, the payment must be made in the form of a cashier’s check, money order, or personal check. DO NOT SEND CASH. Checks should be made payable to the County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control. If you go to the Animal Care Center you may submit payment using your credit card or cash currency.

The Department does not have the capability to delay, defer or reduce fine amounts. Fine amounts listed on administrative citations must be paid within thirty (30) calendar days of when the citation was issued, regardless of your financial status. Failure to pay the fine within thirty (30) days of when the citation was issued can result in an additional $50 penalty being imposed. Unpaid fines may be forwarded to collections and adversely impact your credit. If you believe that the violation listed on the citation did not occur or you are not responsible for the violation, you may request a hearing to contest the violation. If you have a qualifying financial hardship, you may not have to deposit the fine amount prior to the hearing. Those forms can be found at the “I am not the responsible person for the violation and/or would like to contest this citation” tab below.

Administrative Citations can be contested via a hearing process and the Hearing Request must be submitted within the same thirty (30) days you have to submit payment. Payment must be completed, in order to submit a Request for Administrative Hearing and Hardship Waiver, and your transaction receipt will be used on the form. If you decide to document a qualifying financial hardship, the optional Hardship Waiver request must be submitted with the hearing request.

Download a Request for Administrative Hearing form to submit via email or by mail.

Download a Request for Hardship Waiver form to submit via email or by mail.

Yes, complete a Request to Change My Administrative Hearing Date form.

Yes, the number to call is 562-940-6898. Please note that the staff members that answer this telephone line have no authority to change, withdraw or otherwise dispose of the citation. They are not authorized to waive fines, fees, or give legal advice.

The following four violations may be correctable at the discretion of the issuing officer: 10.20.030 – License required; 10.20.185 – Microchipped required; 10.20.220 – Vaccination Required; and in some areas 10.20.350 – Mandatory Spaying and Neutering.

If the officer cited you for one or more of these violations, the violation(s) can be dismissed if you provided proof to any of the seven Los Angeles County Animal Care Centers within thirty (30) days of the service of citation. No fine is due for any violation that is dismissed.