Thinking of rehoming your pet?

At LA County Animal Care Centers, our goal is to be a resource to the community. If you are thinking of rehoming your pet, we are here to help you decide the best course of action to take. A couple of questions to consider before bringing your pet to an animal care center:

1. Do you want to keep your pet but need help with resources (medical, pet supplies, or something else)? If yes, learn more about available resources HERE.
2. Is there something wrong with your pet medically? Behaviorally? If yes, learn more about available resources HERE.
3. Are you certain you can no longer keep your pet and want to rehome them?
4. Would you be willing to take your pet back if your life circumstance changes? If yes, have you considered short term housing with a friend or family?

We strongly encourage you to explore all options before bringing your pet to an animal care center. Animal care centers can be a stressful place for your pet, and he/she is better off staying at home until a new home is found. Bringing your pet to one of our animal care centers should be a last resort. The best time to change your mind about rehoming your pet is before you bring it to us.

Here are some helpful tips to try before you decide to bring an animal to one of our animal care centers:

• Is there a friend or family member that would be willing to adopt your pet from you?
• Have you tried re-homing your pet using online platforms like Next Door, Facebook, Home to Home, or contacted breed specific rescues?
  • Make sure to spread the word by enlisting the help of friends and family
  • Give yourself time to re-home your pet to find the best home. Your home is usually the best place for your pet while you find a new adopter.
  • Remember to use caution when re-homing your pet to unknown individuals.
    • Ask questions and meet in a public place. Do they have a fenced yard? An established relationship with their veterinarian? Are there other pets/children in the house? Are they away from home during the day for long periods of time? Do they keep their pets indoor vs outdoor?
    • If you are interested in keeping in touch to hear updates, make sure you make that clear and set expectations for the new home up front.
  • Work on increasing adoptability by making sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations and spayed/neutered.
  • Remember to update microchip and license information if you do rehome your pet

Do you need access to a resource to help retain your pet? Help is out there!

• Check out our resources list HERE for a list of organizations that offer help for pet owners.
• pets.findhelp.com 

If you need additional assistance, please reach out via email to your local Animal Care Center for more information.

• Our staff will reach out to you to discus further resources if needed and help you make an appointment to bring your pet to a local Care Center as the last resort after counseling session.

Agoura: agoura@animalcare.lacounty.gov
Baldwin Park: baldwinpark@animalcare.lacounty.gov
Carson: carson@animalcare.lacounty.gov
Castaic: castaic@animalcare.lacounty.gov
Downey: downeyctaip@animalcare.lacounty.gov
Lancaster: acclancaster@animalcare.lacounty.gov
Palmdale: palmdale@animalcare.lacounty.gov

If this is an animal-related emergency, please call our Communications Center

South County Communication Center: (562) 940-6898
North County Communication Center: (661) 940-4191