Deceased Animal Pickup

Animal Care Services strives to respond as quickly as possible to all deceased animal pickup requests. Response times vary depending on the season and call volume.

Please note that sick and injured animals are prioritized, so response times for deceased animal pickups may be longer during periods of high demand.

Yes. Residents may dispose of some types of deceased animals weighing 15 pounds or less.

• Wear disposable gloves when handling the animal.
• Place the animal in two sealed plastic bags before disposing of it in your regular trash.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the animal.

Do not dispose of the following animals:

• Dogs and cats – Long Beach Animal Care Services must check for a microchip or other identification to help reunite the animal with its owner.
• Crows and bats – These animals may need to be collected for public health monitoring and disease surveillance.

Yes. Fees may apply for owned pets that require Animal Care Services pickup and disposal. Charges may include:

• Animal Control Officer response fee
• Disposal fee
• Weight-based fee, if the animal’s size requires additional resources, such as more than one Animal Control Officer or specialized handling equipment

For current fees, please view the Master Fee Schedule

There is no fee for Animal Care Services to pick up deceased stray animals found in public property.

If your pet has passed away at home, we recommend contacting your veterinarian or a pet cremation service for assistance with aftercare options.

If you prefer to bring your pet to our facility, you may do so during our regular business hours, however we do not offer personal cremation services.

Animal Care Services can assist with pickup from private property; however, fees for officer(s) time applies. Pickup times are determined by prioirity calls and call volume. 

The risk of catching a disease from a dead animal is generally low, but some animals, including birds, can carry diseases that may affect people. To reduce the risk of exposure, avoid handling dead animals with bare hands.

Residents may remove and dispose of deceased animals weighing 15 pounds or less if they feel comfortable doing so. If you choose to remove a deceased animal:

• Wear gloves or use a plastic bag as a barrier when picking up the animal.
• Avoid touching your face while handling the animal.
• Double-bag the animal before placing it in your regular trash.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after disposal.

We are committed to treating every animal with dignity and respect. Unless a deceased animal must be submitted to Public Health, all remains are transferred to our contracted pet aftercare provider "Faithful Companions" for a communal cremation.

As part of the group cremation process, the cremated remains are scattered at sea through a Faithful Companions program.