Orange County Animal Services now requires an appointment for pet surrenders. Please read the below and our COVID-19 page before proceeding.
Animal Services is this community’s only open admission shelter, which means no Orange County animal (found or owned) in need is ever turned away. As a result, the shelter receives approximately 50 pets each day. While Animal Services makes every effort to find new homes for the shelter pets, there are often more animals in need than there are available homes. This is known as the pet overpopulation problem.
The shelter should be the last resort for Orange County residents looking to rehome their owned pet, not the first. Animal Services can never guarantee that a pet will be adopted from the shelter, although every effort is made. In fiscal year 2019, nearly 4,000 pets were surrendered to the shelter. Orange County pet owners are encouraged to explore the below alternatives before bringing their pet to Animal Services.