Found Animals

It is the goal of the Animal Control Division to return lost pets to their owners. If you are looking for your lost pet it is important that you check in person for your pet. If their owner does not reclaim them they may become available on their evaluation date through the spcaLA.

If you find your lost pet contact Division staff with the cage number of your pet prior to the evaluation date. When claiming a pet you will be required to provide proof of ownership

I lost my pet, what should I do?

How do I claim mY pet?

HOW DO I ADOPT A PET?

I lost my pet, what should I do?

The Long Beach Animal Control Division Generally handles in excess of 12,500 animals each year. Because of this large number of animals it is nearly impossible to assist owners who are looking for their pets over the phone. You should know that stray untagged animals are held for 5 days, made available for adoption through the spcaLA on the 6^th day and become candidates for euthanasia beginning on the 7^th day of impoundment.

We highly recommend all of the following steps in order for you to find your missing animal:

¨ Check the Animal Control holding kennels/cages for your pet.

à Dogs are housed in Cottages 6 and 7. Be sure and check both the inside and outside of the kennels. If you do not find your dog in these Cottages, please ask an Animal Control staff member to check Cottage 5 - our isolation and Quarantine sections.

à Cats are housed in the Main/Administration building in Cat Rooms 1 and 2. If you do not find you cat in these Rooms, please ask an Animal Control staff member to check our feral, isolation and Quarantine sections.

à For other types of pets, please ask staff for assistance.

¨ Check the daily impound list for pets impounded, taken to the veterinarian injured and those picked up deceased.

¨ Check the Lost and Found Book and Bulletin Board for your pet. Please add your pet to them.

¨ It is not uncommon for a lost pet to wander for several miles, so search at least 7 blocks in either direction. Check with veterinary hospitals, the mail carrier, meter reader, delivery people and other shelters. (If the pet may enter into another shelter’s jurisdiction).

¨ Keep checking our kennels/cages as often as possible in person - this is truly the only way to determine if your pet has been impounded.

¨ When unable to check in person, you can check the lost and found section of the Press Telegram. Also check Home Town TV8 for Lost But Found that features animals form the Division.

How do I claim MY pet?

Once an owner locates their pet they should go to the admissions counter of the Animal Control Division to claim their pet. The following information must be provided to redeem your lost pet.

¨ No animal will be redeemed to any individual who is under the age of 18.

¨ Every person claiming ownership of an impounded pet is required to provide positive identification such as a California Driver’s License or Identification Card.

¨ Proof of ownership must be provided to administrative staff; this could include any of the following:

o Information or a copy of a Dog License describing the animal in Question.

o Rabies inoculation certificate.

o Other medical records with a full description of the pet.

o Other documentation of the pet such as purchase receipts, micro-chip records, tattoo records, pictures, video, or other paperwork with a full description of the pet.

It is for the protection of the owner and the pet that we cannot redeem any pet without proof of ownership. When an owner cannot provide positive proof of ownership, the pet will be held for the entire holding period, prior to an evaluation of the documentation for possible redemption by senior staff members.

The following requirements must be met prior to any pet being released to its owner:

¨ All dogs over the age of four months are required by Long Beach Municipal Code 6.08.010 to have a current City of Long Beach (or it’s contract cities) dog license. No dog over the age of four months will be redeemed without compliance with this ordinance.

¨ No dog over the age of four months will be released without establishing the proof of a valid rabies inoculation. If proof cannot be determined the dog must be inoculated before it may leave the facility. This may require the dog to stay an additional day for qualified staff to perform the inoculation.

¨ No pet will be redeemed into the custody of its owner until all established fees have been paid. (i.e., progressive impound fees, board and keep, inoculation fees and the required license or permit fees).

¨ All payments for redemption of pets will be cash or credit card, no checks excepted.

Once a pet has been held the required holding period and has been adopted/sold into and new home it is the property of the new owner. If your pet (with positive proof of ownership) has been adopted, staff will contact the new owner and explain that the pet owner has come in for their pet and ask if they wish to return the pet or contact the owner. If the new owner chooses not to return the pet or contact the owner there is no other action that we can take as completed sales and/or adoptions are final.

HOW DO I ADOPT A PET?

Since our partnership with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) and the opening of the Companion Animal Village in August 2001, the spcaLA provides adoption services for the City of Long Beach Animal Control. Most pets available for adoption will be found in the spcaLA’s holding Cottages 2, 3, and 4 and Cat housing areas, located in the Main/Administration building. You can also view spcaLA adoptable animals at their website, www.spcaLA.com. For these pets please go directly to the spcaLA counter and inquire about adopting the pet.

Some adoptable pets may also be found in the Animal Control Cottages 6 and 7, as well as in Cat Rooms 1 and 2 in the Main/Administration building. If you wish to adopt one of these pets please ask Animal Control staff for the evaluation date. On the evaluation date, go the spcaLA counter to inquire about adopting the pet.

If you wish to adopt a pet, you will be required to fill out an Adoption Questionnaire and must qualify. It is the goal of the Companion Animal Village to place all adoptable pets into a proper, loving home where they will be a companion for life.

Some pets may not be made available for adoption due to health or behavioral problems. Pets that pose a threat to the public will not be made available for adoption. 501 (c)(3) Animal Rescue Organizations may have the right to adopt any pet prior to being euthanized through the Animal Control’s 501 (c)(3) Animal Rescue Organization Adoption Program.