San Diego Humane Society's fees apply to the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista.
Dog License Fees
License fees are an investment in the health and safety of our pets. These small fees also assist San Diego Humane Society in providing care to stray and homeless animals and further our efforts to eliminate animal 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.
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Adopted Dogs: 1 time exempt |
$0 |
| Altered, one year license |
$20 |
| Altered, two year license |
$35 |
| Altered, three year license |
$50 |
| Unaltered, one year license |
$50 |
| Unaltered, two year license |
$90 |
| Unaltered, three year license |
$140 |
| Change of ownership |
$15 |
| Late fee |
$25 |
| Transfer fee |
$15 |
| Tag replacement |
$15 |
Dog license fees are non-refundable.
Late Fees: Failure to obtain a license, or to renew the license by the expiration date will result in a late fee.
Alteration (Spay/Neuter): Dog 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.
Dangerous Dog/ Public Nuisance Fees
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Annual Renewal |
$30 |
| Initial Registration |
$100 |
| Inspection |
$50 |
| Reg. Late Fee |
$50 |
| Renewal Late Fee |
$50 |
Impound Fees
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Dog, Cat, small animals |
$40 |
| Sheep, Goats. Medium animals |
$40 |
| Equine, Bovine, large animals |
$65 |
| Fowl |
$40 |
| Dog at large 2nd time |
$55 |
| Dog at large 3rd time |
$100 |
| Unaltered Fee - Dog & Cat* |
$150 |
*The unaltered fee is inclusive of State unaltered fees
***El Cajon has a "Facility Maintenance Fee" that will apply to all impounds, relinquishments and adoptions at the El Cajon Campus.
Relinquishment Fees
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Dog, Cat, small animals at shelter |
$30 |
| Dog, Cat, small animals in field |
$30 |
| Livestock |
$30 |
| Out of Jurisdiction |
$250 |
| ***El Cajon has a "Facility Maintenance Fee" that will apply to all impounds, relinquishments and adoptions at the El Cajon Campus. |
Adoption Fees
All adoption fees collected assist in the daily care and ongoing needs of each animal admitted to San Diego Humane Society.
Depending on the type of animal, fees may include spay/neuter, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, a special offer for MetLife Pet Insurance, and a 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. SDHS campuses that offer adoptions are located in El Cajon***, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego.
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Cat |
$75 |
| Kitten |
$140 |
| Dog |
$110 |
| Puppy |
$230 |
| Rabbits, Guineas, chinchillas, large birds, reptiles** |
$30 |
| Small birds, mice, rats, hamsters |
$10 |
| Sheep / Horse / Livestock |
$250 |
** Red Eared Slider Turtles $5.00.
***El Cajon has a "Facility Maintenance Fee" that will apply to all impounds, relinquishments and adoptions at the El Cajon Campus.
Promotions: We reserve the right to hold special animal adoption promotions wherein prices may be reduced or waived altogether. These promotional campaigns will be advertised to the general public and honored during the promotional dates only. Following special adoption campaigns, adoption pricing will revert to original pricing until further notice.
Boarding Fees
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Dog, Cat, small animal |
$25 |
| Sheep, Goats. Medium animal (per day) |
$30 |
Equine, Bovine, large
(plus 1/2 for 1st day) |
$80 |
Medical Service Fees
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Cat Neuter |
$65 |
| Cat Cryptorchid Neuter |
$75 |
| Cat Spay |
$75 |
| Dog Cryptorchid Neuter |
$130 |
| Dog Neuter |
$120 |
| Dog Spay |
$130 |
| Feline Leukemia Test |
$40 |
| Topical Flea Treatment |
$15 |
| Vaccinations (per injection) |
$20 |
Owner Requested Euthanasia Fees
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Shelter |
$55 |
| Cremation - 0-29 pounds |
$15 |
| Cremation - 30-79 pounds |
$35 |
| Cremation - 80+ pounds |
$65 |
Protection Dogs
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Premise Inspection |
$30 |
Quarantine Fees
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Fee Per Visit |
$50 |
Kennel Fees
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| License Application |
$150 |
| Late Fee |
$50 |
| Late Fee > 6 mos |
$100 |
| Deficiency Follow-up |
$50 |
Guard Dogs
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Operator Permit |
$100 |
| Premise Permit |
$50 |
Miscellaneous Fees
| Fee Title |
Fee |
| Brachycephalic anesthetic protocol (propofol) |
$50 |
| Cardboard Carrier |
$15 |
| E-Collar |
$15 |
| Facility Maintenance Fee*** |
$3*** |
| Microchip |
$25 |
| SNIP (Spay/Neuter Reclaim Program) |
See S/N Fees |
| Spay/Neuter Deposit |
$60 |
***El Cajon has a "Facility Maintenance Fee" that will apply to all impounds, relinquishments and adoptions at the El Cajon Campus.
Updated 8/15/2023
