Animal Assistance League of Orange County
on-euthanizing rescue kennel, also provides pet assistance and humane education programs to the community.
Shelters
Government, non-profit or private animal shelters, commonly called “the pound,” that provide shelter and care for stray, lost or abandoned animals. All shelters offer healthy animals for adoption; there is usually a small fee. Animals are kept at the shelter until claimed by their owners; adopted to new owners; placed with a rescue or adoption organization; or euthanized. Most shelters accept animals from residents of specific cities only. For animal control services, including found/stray animals, please see the listing under “Emergency Resources.” Also see: “Adoption and Rescue.”
* NOTE:
Euthanizing vs. Non-euthanizing Shelters
Most city shelters perform euthanasia on animals. Animals that are euthanized typically have temperament problems, are unhealthy, or have exceeded the capacity of the shelter. Non-euthanizing shelters keep all healthy animals until adopted; however, they do perform euthanasia on pets that are unadoptable. Sometimes these shelters are called pro-humane rather than non-euthanizing, but are similar. There are a few shelters that practice a true non-euthanizing policy—those that do, will turn animals away if their shelter is full.
If you have found an animal and need to take it to a shelter, but you are concerned about the life of the animal, ask about the shelter’s policy before you take the animal in. Many adoption and rescue organizations offer advice and/or referrals about found/lost/stray animals (see “Adoption and Rescue” for a list of organizations). Most shelters provide pictures of adoptable and found/stray animals on their website.
Harbor Animal Care and Control Shelter
Pro-humane shelter serves Carson, Gardena, Harbor City, Lomita, San Pedro, Torrance, Willimington, and Watts.
LA County Downey Animal Shelter
Euthanizing shelter is a branch of the LA Department of Animal Care and Control.
Laguna Beach Animal Shelter
Pro-humane shelter provides care for stray, sick or injured animals found in Laguna Beach or Laguna Woods only.
LBACS P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center
Euthanizing Long Beach animal shelter. Shares site with spcaLA, see their listing in the section for more information.
Lostmydoggie.com
Service that quickly delivers a personal lost pet message to your neighbors, shelters, rescues, vets and pet-related businesses.
Mission Viejo Animal Services Center
Pro-humane shelter provides pet adoption and licensing; also provides care for stray animals from Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo only.
OC Animal Care
An euthanizing shelter provides animal control and shelter services for many Orange County cities (see “Emergency” for a complete list of cities).
Orange County Humane Society
Pro-humane shelter accepts stray and owner-relinquished pets from Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Westminster only.
San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter
As a pro-humane, all volunteer shelter; all adoptable animals stay until reclaimed or adopted.
Seal Beach Animal Care Center
As a non-euthanizing shelter all healthy animals stay until reclaimed or adopted.
Southeast Area Animal Control Authority
An euthanizing shelter; SEAACA provides animal control and shelter services for various LA County cities as well as Buena Park and La Palma (see “Emergency” for a list of cities).
spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center
Pro-humane adoption center, pet store, boarding and grooming.
