Animal Care and Control

Los Angeles County CA Animal Care and Control helps residents address lost pets, stray animals, animal bites, cruelty complaints, pet licensing, adoptions, injured animals, nuisance concerns, and other public safety issues involving animals. This guide explains how the department works, which communities it serves, how to request help, what to do during an animal emergency, and how to use county animal care centers without wasting time or contacting the wrong agency.

Understand What Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control Handles

The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, commonly called DACC, is responsible for protecting both people and animals within its service areas. The department operates animal care centers, dispatches animal control officers, enforces animal-related laws, investigates suspected cruelty, supports emergency evacuations, licenses pets and animal businesses, and helps reunite lost animals with their families.

Residents can begin with the official Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control website to view animals, request non-emergency service, manage a pet license, review adoption information, and check current departmental notices.

The department’s responsibilities extend well beyond picking up stray animals. Its animal control officers and care center employees may handle:

Dangerous or aggressive animal complaints
Sick and injured animal rescue
Stray dog pickup and owner-reunification efforts
Animal cruelty, abuse, neglect, and illegal fighting investigations
Non-emergency animal bite reports
Deceased animal removal from public areas
Local and state animal law enforcement
Pet licensing and field licensing issues
Commercial animal facility inspections and licensing
Animal evacuations during wildfires and other disasters
Lost-and-found animal services
Adoptions and pet surrender assistance

DACC operates around the clock for field response and maintains communications centers that receive calls from residents. However, animal care center public hours and available counter services may be more limited, particularly on Sundays and county holidays.

Confirm That the County Serves Your Address Before Requesting Help

One of the most important steps is confirming jurisdiction. Los Angeles County contains incorporated cities, unincorporated communities, and areas served by different animal control agencies. The County Department of Animal Care and Control serves unincorporated Los Angeles County and numerous contract cities, but it does not provide regular service throughout every city in the county.

The City of Los Angeles generally operates its own animal services system and is not normally served by the County department, except in certain small unincorporated areas within or next to the city. Other incorporated cities may operate their own departments or contract with a different provider.

Review the department’s animal care service areas and jurisdictions before reporting a stray animal, requesting an officer, surrendering a pet, or visiting a care center. For an address-specific answer, enter the incident or residential address in the official Los Angeles County animal care service locator.

Why the Exact Incident Address Matters

Animal control jurisdiction is based on where the incident occurred, not necessarily where the person reporting it lives. For example, someone may live in a county-served community but witness an animal bite or suspected neglect in a city handled by another agency. Entering the address of the animal, bite, or suspected violation helps identify the authority that can legally respond.

Providing an accurate address also helps dispatchers determine which animal care center and field unit covers the location. Include the street address whenever possible, along with the city or community name, ZIP Code, nearest cross streets, and a clear description of where the animal can be found.

Request Animal Control Service the Right Way

The department separates emergency calls from non-emergency online requests. Choosing the correct method is important because an online form may not be reviewed quickly enough for an animal that is injured, trapped, aggressive, or in immediate danger.

Call Immediately for Urgent Animal Situations

Contact the appropriate DACC Communication Center when an animal-related situation needs prompt field attention. Examples include:

A sick or seriously injured animal
A contained stray dog that cannot be handled safely
An aggressive animal threatening people or other animals
An animal trapped in a dangerous location
An animal requiring emergency rescue
An urgent incident involving public safety

For a human emergency or animal cruelty actively occurring with an immediate threat to a person, call 911. Do not rely on an online request when a delay could increase the danger to a person or animal.

Submit Online Requests for Non-Emergency Problems

The official animal control service request form may be used for qualifying non-emergency situations, including certain stray animal concerns, suspected animal cruelty or neglect, non-emergency bite reports, and deceased animal pickup requests.

Before submitting the form, confirm that DACC covers the address. The form generally requires detailed information about the incident, the animals involved, the location, and the person submitting the request. Explain what happened in plain language and include useful identifying details such as:

Type and number of animals
Breed, size, color, and distinguishing markings
Whether the animal appears injured, aggressive, confined, or loose
Direction of travel if the animal is roaming
Date and approximate time of the incident
Owner information, when known
Photos or other supporting details when the form permits them

Online requests are dispatched according to priority, staffing, and the circumstances described. Submitting multiple reports for the same incident may not produce a faster response. A complete report with an accurate address and specific facts is more useful than a short request that omits essential details.

Know When Animal Control Officers Can Take Action

Animal control officers are sworn personnel who enforce applicable animal laws and respond to calls throughout the department’s jurisdiction. Their authority is shaped by state law, county ordinances, available evidence, public safety conditions, and constitutional protections.

An officer may investigate a complaint, inspect visible conditions, speak with an owner or witness, document evidence, issue notices or citations when legally supported, rescue an animal in qualifying circumstances, or refer a matter for further enforcement. A complaint alone does not always permit immediate seizure of an animal. Officers must evaluate the facts and follow the legal process that applies to the situation.

The department’s neighborhood animal control field services information explains the major duties handled by officers, including dangerous animal calls, injured animal rescue, cruelty investigations, ordinance enforcement, commercial facility inspections, and disaster response.

Report Suspected Cruelty With Specific Facts

When reporting possible animal cruelty or neglect, describe what you personally observed rather than relying on assumptions. Helpful information may include the animal’s condition, access to food and water, visible injuries, exposure to severe weather, confinement conditions, dates and times, and whether the conduct is continuing.

Do not enter private property, confront a person, or place yourself in danger to collect evidence. If abuse is happening at that moment and presents an emergency, contact 911. Non-emergency suspected cruelty within DACC jurisdiction may be reported through the county service request process.

Search County Animal Care Centers for a Lost Pet

Owners should begin searching as soon as they realize a pet is missing. A lost animal may be taken to a county care center, but it may also remain near the neighborhood, be temporarily kept by a resident, or be delivered to another jurisdiction’s shelter. Checking only one location once is not enough.

Use the official DACC animal search to review animals currently in county care. Searches can be narrowed by animal care center, animal type, size, color, breed, sex, age, status, and time in the kennel. Owners who have an animal identification number can also use the ID search.

Read Animal Status Labels Carefully

Each record may show a status that explains whether the animal is available or subject to a legal, medical, behavioral, identification, or investigative hold. Common statuses include:

Stray Wait: The animal is completing the legally required holding period.

ID Hold: The animal has identification such as a license tag, personal tag, or microchip.

Ready to Go Home: The animal is available for adoption and may leave with an approved adopter that day.

Available Pending Spay or Neuter: The holding period has ended, but surgery is still pending.

Pending Assessment: The animal is awaiting a behavioral evaluation.

Quarantine: The animal is being held after a bite or related exposure under applicable requirements.

Rescue Only: Placement is limited to an approved adoption partner or authorized rescue organization because of medical or behavioral circumstances.

Other Hold: The animal is unavailable for another case-specific reason.

Statuses may change as the animal’s legal hold, health, identification, behavior, or placement circumstances change. Check records frequently and contact the care center promptly when an animal appears to match your pet.

Strengthen the Search Beyond the Online Listing

Follow the department’s official lost pet guidance and continue checking animal care centers in the surrounding area. Contact the microchip company and confirm that the registration includes a current telephone number and address. Prepare a clear flyer with a recent photograph, the pet’s name, breed or description, sex, size, identifying marks, last known location, and reliable contact details.

When searching for a loose dog, avoid chasing or shouting. A frightened dog may run farther even when it recognizes its owner. Turn sideways, lower your body, speak calmly, and encourage the dog to approach. For a missing cat, search quietly near hiding spaces, use familiar food sounds, and check enclosed areas such as garages, sheds, crawl spaces, and nearby yards with permission.

Adopt a Pet From a County Animal Care Center

Los Angeles County animal care centers house dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, livestock, and other animals depending on current admissions. Many are strays, while others were surrendered by owners who could no longer keep them.

The department provides food, admission examinations, core vaccinations, flea and tick treatment, medical monitoring, behavior support, and enrichment for animals in its care. Adoption animals are generally examined, vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered before placement. An animal marked Ready to Go Home has completed the required process and may be able to leave with an adopter on the same day.

Review the official Los Angeles County pet adoption process before visiting. Available animals can be viewed during posted public hours, and staff members or volunteers may help visitors meet suitable pets.

Prepare Before Visiting an Animal Care Center

Search available animals online and record the animal identification numbers that interest you. Bring the identification and documentation required by the department, and make sure every household member understands the responsibilities involved. Renters should verify that their lease allows the type, size, or breed of animal being considered.

Adoption availability may change quickly. An animal shown online may be under a hold, awaiting surgery, involved in an owner-reclaim process, or receiving interest from another adopter. Ready to Go Home animals are generally placed on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving prepared can reduce delays.

Animal care centers are normally open for adoptions and other public services Monday through Saturday during posted hours. Sundays and holidays have limited operations, and public viewing may be unavailable. Check current operating notices before traveling.

Handle a Found Dog or Cat Safely

A person who finds a loose pet should first consider safety. Do not attempt to restrain an animal that is aggressive, severely frightened, injured, or located near traffic. Contact dispatch when the animal cannot be safely handled or needs urgent medical assistance.

Check a Found Dog for Identification

If the dog is calm and can be approached safely, look for a collar, license tag, or personal identification tag. A telephone number on a tag may allow the owner to be contacted immediately. A county animal care center can scan a found pet for a microchip.

Walk the dog through the immediate area only when it is safe and securely controlled. The animal may have escaped from a nearby yard. Ask neighbors whether they recognize it, and look for an open gate or damaged fence. Keep a record of the exact location and time the dog was found.

Evaluate the Situation Before Removing a Cat

A healthy free-roaming cat may live nearby and may not be lost. Observe whether the cat appears well-fed, regularly returns to the same area, or has a visible ear tip associated with sterilization. A friendly cat may be scanned for a microchip when it can be transported safely.

DACC generally does not pick up healthy free-roaming stray cats. Sick or injured cats should be reported directly to the Communication Center rather than through a delayed online request. Young kittens require careful evaluation because their mother may be temporarily away finding food.

License Dogs and Qualifying Cats

All dogs in Los Angeles County must be licensed. Cats must also be licensed in unincorporated areas and in many cities served by DACC, subject to local requirements and exceptions. Licensing provides an official connection between a pet and its owner and can make reunification faster when an animal is found.

The department offers new licenses and renewals through its official pet licensing service. Licensing requirements may include current rabies vaccination information and proof that the pet has been spayed or neutered when requesting a reduced fee.

Keep License and Microchip Records Current

A license is most useful when the owner’s information is accurate. Update the department after moving, changing a telephone number, transferring ownership, or replacing a lost tag. Microchip registration should be updated separately with the microchip company because a county license record does not automatically change the private microchip registry.

Field licensing employees may conduct neighborhood canvassing to check compliance. Owners with questions about a notice, payment, renewal, license status, or field canvassing issue should contact the department’s licensing division.

Prepare for Animal Emergencies and Natural Disasters

DACC responds during wildfires and other natural disasters to assist with animal evacuations, rescues, sheltering, and public safety. Residents should not wait until an evacuation order to decide how they will transport pets or livestock.

Prepare carriers, leashes, identification, medications, vaccination records, food, water, and basic supplies in advance. Mark carriers with the owner’s name and contact information. Large-animal owners should maintain suitable trailers and identify more than one evacuation destination because roads, facilities, or preferred routes may become unavailable.

During extreme heat, keep animals in shaded or climate-controlled areas with access to clean water. Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day and check pavement temperatures before walking a dog. Never leave an animal in a parked vehicle, even when windows are open.

Use Pet Surrender as a Last-Step Service

DACC accepts owner-surrendered pets at county animal care centers during business hours without requiring an appointment. However, surrender can be stressful for the animal, and space limitations may affect available placement options.

Before surrendering, owners should consider whether a temporary hardship can be addressed through family assistance, housing discussions, veterinary planning, behavior support, or direct rehoming. When surrender remains necessary, bring available medical records, vaccination information, medication instructions, behavior history, identification documents, and details about the pet’s daily routine.

Be honest about bites, aggression, fear, medical conditions, escape behavior, and interactions with children or other animals. Accurate information helps care center staff make safer handling, treatment, housing, and placement decisions.

Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control Departments

Department of Animal Care and Control Administrative Office
5898 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90805
(562) 728-4882

Enforcement Division
5898 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90805
(562) 345-0400

South County Communication Center
(562) 940-6898

North County Communication Center
(661) 940-4191

Santa Clarita Valley/Castaic Animal Care Center
31044 North Charlie Canyon Road, Castaic, CA 91384
(661) 257-3191

Lancaster Animal Care Center
5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536
(661) 940-4191

Palmdale Animal Care Center
38550 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550
(661) 575-2800

Baldwin Park Animal Care Center
4275 North Elton Street, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
(626) 962-3577

Downey Animal Care Center
11258 South Garfield Avenue, Downey, CA 90242
(562) 940-6898

Agoura Animal Care Center
29525 Agoura Road, Agoura, CA 91301
(818) 991-0071

Carson/Gardena Animal Care Center
216 West Victoria Street, Gardena, CA 90248
(310) 523-9566

Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control FAQs

Can I search for an animal that is no longer at a county care center?

Yes. The official Los Angeles County animal search includes a separate option for animals that left a county care center within the past 90 days. This can be useful when a pet’s current listing no longer appears. Search by animal identification number when available, or review records using details such as the animal’s type, breed, color, sex, and care center location. Because animal records and statuses can change, save any identification number connected to a possible match.

Does “Adoption Pending” mean an animal has already been adopted?

Not necessarily. “Adoption Pending” means the animal completed its legal holding period, but spay or neuter requirements and a scheduled pickup may still be involved. A prospective adopter has expressed interest and received a specific pickup date and time. The interested person must appear at the animal care center as directed. This status is different from “Ready to Go Home,” which generally indicates that the animal is already altered, microchipped, and available for same-day placement under the department’s first-come, first-served process.

Can fees be paid at the department’s administrative office?

No. Animals are not housed at the administrative office, and fee payments cannot be completed there. Payments may be made at an animal care center, although the department recommends using available online payment services when possible to reduce in-person waiting. Residents should visit an animal care center only during the posted hours for the service they need.

Are Animal Care and Control services available in languages other than English?

Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control provides language-access assistance so residents can use departmental services in different languages. Residents who need translated information or help communicating with the department should review the official language access services page before submitting a request or visiting an animal care center.