Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter
Animal services function; provider and jurisdiction must be verified.[1]
Source checked October 26, 2026[1]www.scanimalshelter.org
Opens this office’s own website. CountyWiki does not process applications, take payments or provide personal records.
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.
Official animal care/control provider associated with Santa Cruz County for browsing. Service areas can differ between sheltering, field response and licensing; confirm the specific address, species and service with the provider.
Before you start
- Information & documents · Adoption — housing proof and foster appointment
- Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals here on our website and then visit the Shelter at 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. [4]
- Appointments · Foster-home meetings differ from shelter meetings
- Staff will talk with you about the animals you’re interested in and set up a meeting. If the animal is in the Shelter, you may be able to meet them that day. If they are in a Foster home, we will need to set up an appointment for a different day. [5]
Official animal care/control provider associated with Santa Cruz County for browsing. Service areas can differ between sheltering, field response and licensing; confirm the specific address, species and service with the provider.
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.
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 · 5 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] Santa Cruz — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz County animal services · Official animal services page or explicitly named animal contact
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
core servicesANIMAL CARE & SHELTERCare of Lost/Rescued Pets
- [2] Santa Cruz — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz County animal services · Official source — shelter service or explicitly named shelter referral
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
core servicesANIMAL CARE & SHELTERCare of Lost/Rescued Pets
- [3] Santa Cruz — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz County animal services · Official animal services source — precise pet/dog licensing link
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Pet License Fees
- [4] Santa Cruz — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz County animal services · Reviewed local animal service conditions — Adoption — housing proof and foster appointment
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals here on our website and then visit the Shelter at 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal.
- [5] Santa Cruz — official animal services information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz County animal services · Reviewed local animal service conditions — Foster-home meetings differ from shelter meetings
Source reviewed October 26, 2026View supporting excerpt
Staff will talk with you about the animals you’re interested in and set up a meeting. If the animal is in the Shelter, you may be able to meet them that day. If they are in a Foster home, we will need to set up an appointment for a different day.