Animal Services Fees
San Diego Humane Society's fees are collected for the adoption of pets and a variety of services provided to our community. Some services and associated fees apply only to residents of the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista.
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.
Dog License Fees
San Diego Humane Society sells licenses on behalf of the contract cities we serve: Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista. In addition to being required by law, license fees are an investment in the health and safety of our pets. These small fees also help San Diego Humane Society provide care to stray and homeless pets and protect animals from cruelty and neglect. If your city is not listed, please click here for information on where to purchase your dog license. More information about licensing in our jurisdiction can be found here.
| License Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dogs adopted from SDHS who reside in our jurisdiction | Free 1-year license |
| Altered, 1-year license | $20 |
| Altered, 2-year license | $35 |
| Altered, 3-year license | $50 |
| Unaltered, 1-year license | $50 |
| Unaltered, 2-year license | $90 |
| Unaltered, 3-year license | $140 |
| Change of ownership | $15 |
| Late fee | $25 |
| Transfer from another jurisdiction | $15 |
| Lost Tag replacement | $15 |
Dog license fees are non-refundable.
Late Fees: ailure to obtain a license or renew the license by the expiration date may result in a late fee.
Alteration (Spay/Neuter): Licenses for unaltered dogs are charged at a higher rate. For a list of low-cost spay or neuter services in San Diego, please visit sdhumane.org/alterations.
Reclaim Fees
If you are reclaiming a pet, the following fees may be applicable: impound, daily animal care, dog license, medical service, and miscellaneous fees. Your specific fees will depend on details such as whether your pet was already licensed, whether they needed medical care and how many days they spent in our shelter. The fees you are responsible for will be discussed with you when you reclaim your pet, and we recommend coming to the shelter as soon as possible. Please note that our primary goal is to reunite owners with their lost pets. If you are concerned about your ability to pay the fees to reclaim your animal, please let us know so we can discuss available options! For more information and FAQs about the reclaim process, visit sdhumane.org/reclaim.
Note: You might qualify for waived reclaim fees! If your dog is spayed/neutered, has a valid license and microchip, and you pick them up during their first day in our care, we will waive your reclaim fees.
Impound Fees
This fee covers the cost of your animal coming into our care. It includes admission, an evaluation by our staff and some vaccinations necessary to protect your pet and the other animals in our shelter.
| Animal / Fee Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dog, cat, small animals | $40 |
| Dog (2nd time)* | $55 |
| Dog (3rd time)* | $100 |
| Unaltered fee (dog and cat)** | $150 |
| Sheep, fowl, goats, medium farm animals | $40 |
| Equine, bovine, large farm animals | $65 |
| Cardboard carrier (for transport) | $15 |
| Facilities fee (El Cajon Campus)*** | $3 |
*These increased fees apply only to dogs found stray or running at large multiple times. They do not apply in cases of emergency boarding.
**This fee of $150 may be added to the total owed for reclaim if your pet enters our care as a stray more than once and is unaltered. It does not apply in cases of emergency boarding. This amount includes fees mandated by the State of California and County of San Diego.
***If you reclaim your impounded 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.
Daily Animal Care Fees
If your pet enters San Diego Humane Society’s care, you may be subject to a daily care fee to cover the cost of housing, cleaning, feeding and enrichment.
| Animal / Fee Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dog, cat, small animal | $25 |
| Sheep, fowl, goats, medium farm animals (per day) | $30 |
| Equine, bovine, large farm animals (plus ½ for 1st day) | $80 |
Medical Services
If your pet receives necessary medical services during their stay in our shelter, you may be responsible for fees related to the services. Please note that spaying or neutering your pet is not required for reclaim, but these procedures are highly recommended for the health and safety of your pet. Using San Diego Humane Society’s Spay Neuter Impact Program (SNIP) and agreeing to have your pet altered can significantly reduce the cost to reclaim your pet.
| Fee Title | Fee |
|---|---|
| Microchip* | $25 |
| Rabies vaccination** | $20 |
| E-collar | $15 |
| Topical flea treatment | No fee charged |
| Additional vaccines | No fee charged |
| Cat neuter | $65 |
| Cat cryptorchid neuter | $75 |
| Cat spay | $75 |
| Dog cryptorchid neuter | $130 |
| Dog neuter | $120 |
| Dog spay | $130 |
| Additional medical care | Fees vary |
*All dogs and cats must be microchipped prior to being released from an animal shelter, per California’s Food and Agriculture Code Section 31108.3 and 31752.1. A microchip is permanent identification that can help your pet get back to you faster if they ever become lost.
** Because the risk of infectious disease is higher in a shelter, all dogs are given a rabies vaccine when entering our care.
SNIP (Spay Neuter Impact Program)
If your pet enters the shelter unaltered, you can choose to have them spayed/neutered prior to reclaim. If you choose this option, most of the fees (other than the spay or neuter fee listed in the medical services section) will be waived. You may be charged for an e-collar and the fees associated with a microchip, license and rabies vaccine.
Spay/Neuter Deposit
If you choose to reclaim your pet unaltered, you will be subject to a fee mandated by San Diego County Code Sec. 62.679. You are entitled to a full refund of the deposit if you provide proof that the animal has been altered by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of reclaim.
| Fee Title | Fee |
|---|---|
| Spay/neuter deposit | $60 |
Kennel Fees
If your animal-related business qualifies as a kennel based on San Diego County Code or your city’s municipal code, you must obtain a license. These fees include an on-site inspection as required by law.
| Fee Title | Fee |
|---|---|
| License Application | $150 |
| Late Fee | $50 |
| Late Fee > 6 mos | $100 |
| Deficiency Follow-up | $50 |
Owner Requested Euthanasia Fees
San Diego Humane Society offers owner-requested euthanasia at our campuses by appointment during business hours.
| Fee Title | Fee |
|---|---|
| Owner requested euthanasia | $55 |
| Cremation (0-29 pounds) | $15 |
| Cremation (30-79 pounds) | $35 |
| Cremation (80+ pounds) | $65 |
Public Nuisance/Dangerous Dog Fees
If your dog has been declared dangerous by Humane Law Enforcement based on your city’s municipal code, you will be subject to the following fees to maintain your dog in the community.
| Fee Title | Fee |
|---|---|
| Annual renewal | $30 |
| Initial registration | $100 |
| Inspection | $50 |
| Registration late fee | $50 |
| Renewal Late Fee | $50 |
Bite Quarantine Fee
Cats or dogs who have bitten a person must be placed under quarantine for rabies observation per state law and county code. Your pet may be able to serve the 10-day quarantine period in your home at the discretion of Humane Law Enforcement. A Humane Officer must visit the property to place your animal on quarantine and observe the animal after the 10-day period to release them from quarantine. If your pet is serving their quarantine period in your home, you may be charged a fee per officer visit. If your animal is impounded into the shelter, you may be subject to reclaim fees at the end of the quarantine period.
| Fee Title | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fee Per Visit | $30 |
Owner Relinquishment Fees
If you need to surrender your pet to San Diego Humane Society, the following fee applies. Please note that there are many free options to rehome your pet. Visit our rehoming page to learn more.
| Fee Title | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dog, cat, small animals | $30 |
| Farm animals | $30 |
| Out of jurisdiction* | $250 |
*If you do not live within San Diego Humane Society’s jurisdiction, you may be charged an additional out-of-jurisdiction fee.
Updated 5/14/2025