Adoption Fees
All adoption fees help San Diego Humane Society care for more than 40,000 animals each year. We strive to keep our adoption fees low to make adoption accessible to members of our community. Depending on the type of animal you adopt, many valuable benefits — often worth more than $1,000 — are included in the adoption fee. This includes the pet’s spay/neuter surgery, current vaccines, microchip, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, a special offer for Fetch Pet Insurance, and a one-year dog license if residing in Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach or Vista. San Diego Humane Society campuses that offer adoptions are located in El Cajon***, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego.
| Animal / Fee Type |
Fee |
| Dog |
$110 |
| Puppy |
$230 |
| Cat |
$75 |
| Kitten |
$140 |
| Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, large birds, reptiles** |
$30 |
| Small birds, mice, rats, hamsters |
$15 |
| Sheep, horses, farm animals |
$250 |
| Cardboard carrier (for transport) |
$15 |
| Facility Fee (El Cajon Campus)*** |
$3 |
** Red Eared Slider Turtles $5.00.
***If you adopt an animal from our El Cajon Campus, an additional $3 facility maintenance fee is assessed and paid to the City of El Cajon for shelter upkeep.
Promotions: We reserve the right to hold special adoption promotions that reduce or waive adoption fees. These promotions will be advertised to the general public and honored during the promotional dates only. After special adoption campaigns, adoption fees will revert to original pricing until further notice.
