San Joaquin County animal services
Animal services function; provider and jurisdiction must be verified.[1]
Source checked October 26, 2026[1]sjsheriff.org
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Contact details & office locations ↓Online services & information
Use the links below for official services and provider information. Check each service’s instructions and service area.
County Sheriff animal services handles county responsibilities; the county explicitly contracts with the City of Stockton for dog/cat sheltering and does not operate its own shelter.
Before you start
- Availability · Sheriff animal services and unincorporated field response
- Animal Services is operated under the direction of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. It is responsible for protecting public health and safety by enforcing local, state, and federal laws and regulations that pertain to domesticated animals and their care in the unincorporated areas of San Joaquin County. Animal Services, in conjunction with the County Public Health Department, administers the state-mandated rabies control program, including vaccination clinics, reporting bites, and quarantine of biting animals within both County and City jurisdictions. The division, in conjunction with the County Community Development Department, administers local code enforcement related to animal zoning ordinances. Animal Services officers impound stray and unmanageable animals, remove injured, sick or dead animals, and inspect privately owned kennels and livestock areas, provide assistance with predatory animals, investigate complaints of animal abuse or neglect and take appropriate action to deal with other problems associated with the care of animals. [4]
- Availability · Dogs/cats sheltered by City of Stockton contract
- The county does not operate an animal shelter. Instead, pursuant to FAC 31106 the Animal Services Division, through the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, contracts with the City of Stockton for sheltering services of impounded animals. The City of Stockton provides for the sheltering of dogs and cats. A private contract is maintained for the hauling, board and care associated with impounded livestock. [5]
County Sheriff animal services handles county responsibilities; the county explicitly contracts with the City of Stockton for dog/cat sheltering and does not operate its own shelter.
Use this specific provider’s licensing instructions. Licensing territory, animal type, vaccination proof, altered-status proof, term and fees must be confirmed; shelter coverage does not automatically establish license eligibility.
Service area: A dog license is a permit to keep a dog within the unincorporated area of the County of San Joaquin. It is similar to licensing your vehicle. Licensing allows the county to keep track of current rabies vaccinations. Another benefit is a found dog can be identified and returned to its owner. Cat licensing is not required by San Joaquin County. Dog licensing is required by law pursuant to County Ordinance 6-1005. [6]
Before you start
- Eligibility & access · Unincorporated dog licensing; cat licensing not required
- A dog license is a permit to keep a dog within the unincorporated area of the County of San Joaquin. It is similar to licensing your vehicle. Licensing allows the county to keep track of current rabies vaccinations. Another benefit is a found dog can be identified and returned to its owner. Cat licensing is not required by San Joaquin County. Dog licensing is required by law pursuant to County Ordinance 6-1005. [6]
Fees
Fees are quoted only when a source document supports the amount and conditions.
Check the official website for its current fee schedule. No fee should be assumed to be free.
Forms & documents
Official forms and document pages for this office’s services.
Sources & last checked1 source page · 6 citations
Sources were checked by an AI-assisted research process. A checked website does not mean every service or fee on it has been reviewed.
- [1] San Joaquin — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
San Joaquin County animal services · Official animal services page or explicitly named animal contact
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Animal Services
- [2] San Joaquin — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
San Joaquin County animal services · Official source — shelter service or explicitly named shelter referral
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
The county does not operate an animal shelter. Instead, pursuant to FAC 31106 the Animal Services Division, through the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, contracts with the City of Stockton for sheltering services of impounded animals. The City of Stockton provides for the sheltering of dogs and cats.A private contract is maintained for the hauling, board and care associated with impounded livestock.
- [3] San Joaquin — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
San Joaquin County animal services · Official animal services source — precise pet/dog licensing link
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Pet Licensing
- [4] San Joaquin — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
San Joaquin County animal services · Reviewed local animal service conditions — Sheriff animal services and unincorporated field response
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Animal Services is operated under the direction of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. It is responsible for protecting public health and safety by enforcing local, state, and federal laws and regulations that pertain to domesticated animals and their care in the unincorporated areas of San Joaquin County. Animal Services, in conjunction with the County Public Health Department, administers the state-mandated rabies control program, including vaccination clinics, reporting bites, and quarantine of biting animals within both County and City jurisdictions. The division, in conjunction with the County Community Development Department, administers local code enforcement related to animal zoning ordinances. Animal Services officers impound stray and unmanageable animals, remove injured, sick or dead animals, and inspect privately owned kennels and livestock areas, provide assistance with predatory animals, investigate complaints of animal abuse or neglect and take appropriate action to deal with other problems associated with the care of animals.
- [5] San Joaquin — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
San Joaquin County animal services · Reviewed local animal service conditions — Dogs/cats sheltered by City of Stockton contract
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
The county does not operate an animal shelter. Instead, pursuant to FAC 31106 the Animal Services Division, through the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, contracts with the City of Stockton for sheltering services of impounded animals. The City of Stockton provides for the sheltering of dogs and cats.A private contract is maintained for the hauling, board and care associated with impounded livestock.
- [6] San Joaquin — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
San Joaquin County animal services · Reviewed local animal service conditions — Unincorporated dog licensing; cat licensing not required
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
A dog license is a permit to keep a dog within the unincorporated area of the County of San Joaquin. It is similar to licensing your vehicle. Licensing allows the county to keep track of current rabies vaccinations. Another benefit is a found dog can be identified and returned to its owner. Cat licensing is not required by San Joaquin County. Dog licensing is required by law pursuant to County Ordinance 6-1005.