Sonoma County Animal Services is committed to serving the public in the care and well being of animals, both domestic and livestock, throughout the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County, the City of Santa Rosa, the City of Healdsburg, and the Town of Windsor.
Our vision is to create a balance between the population of domestic animals and responsible homes to care for them within the County of Sonoma. We work to achieve this balance by:
Protecting the health and safety of people and animals
Investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty, abuse and neglect
Educating the public about responsible domestic animal ownership
Sonoma County Animal Services is an open admission municipal shelter. We never euthanize for time or space. While we accept animals regardless of breed, age, medical history or behavior, we carefully manage the intake of owned animals to ensure space for all animals in our care. This means that there is often a wait list for an owner to surrender an animal to us. Please visit our FAQ page for more information.
Although we are a government agency, we have a 501(c)(3), and are able to accept financial donations.
Once an animal is in our care, we work hard to provide it with the best quality of life possible. Animals receive vaccinations, flea treatment and dewormer, and have their picture taken for our website. If there is a health concern, they also receive a veterinarian exam.
Hold times for stray animals are:
4 business days for animals with no identification
10 days for animal with identification
14 days for livestock
We try to reunite stray animals with their families. If no families are found, we assess the animals for adoption.
Once a hold has expired, animals are behaviorally and medically assessed for adoptability. If they are determined to be adoptable, then the animals are spayed or neutered and microchipped. Adoptable animals remain at our shelter until they find their forever home. During that time, they may be placed in a foster home or transferred to a partnering agency.
Only if an animal is suffering from severe, untreatable medical or behavioral conditions will humane euthanasia be considered. We do not humanely euthanize for space or time.
We have dedicated staff who play a role in providing care for the animals and services to the community.
Animal Services Officers, also known as Animal Control Officers, are responsible for picking up stray animals running loose or confined in someone's home or yard. These calls can vary from roaming , sick or injured animals, or assisting the public with aggressive animals. Officers manage rabies control duties, including investigating bites and quarantining animals that have or are bitten. They also investigate reports of animal complaints, abuse, neglect, and cruelty, and enforce animal-related state laws and local ordinances.
Animal Health Technicians work with our veterinarian to provide medical treatments and assist with surgeries and exams. They also manage intakes, assessments, adoptions, and connecting with our rescue partners.
Animal Care Assistants provide daily care to our animals. They are responsible providing food and water and cleaning the kennels every day. Standard disease control practices and attention to detail play a key role in their daily functions.
Customer Relations staff interact with almost everyone who contacts Sonoma County Animal Services. They answer phones, assist clients in our lobby, and process licensing, rabies certificates, adoptions, owner returns and donations. They help find and direct the public to information and resources.
Volunteers play a critical role in socializing and enriching the lives of our animals. See our Volunteer section for the various ways they contribute to our shelter.
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