Animals, Animal Control Professionals

The County of San Diego Department of Animal Services provides animal control services for the unincorporated areas of San Diego County and the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, San Diego, Santee, and Solana Beach.

Department Animal Control Officers are authorized to investigate possible animal related law violations and take appropriate enforcement action. Each year Department officers conduct thousands of investigations, ranging from relatively minor code violations to felony animal cruelty cases.

In some cases, our officers may promote voluntary compliance by educating owners about their animal care responsibilities; other situations may warrant administrative action and/or an arrest and criminal prosecution. Additionally, our officers rescue animals that are stray, sick or injured, or endangered by floods, wildland fires, or other situations.

If you are aware of a situation that you believe may harm or jeopardize animal welfare (such as animal abuse, neglect, injury, or endangerment) or public health or safety (such as a bite, attack, or harassment of a person by an animal), or that may otherwise be in violation of an animal related law, we urge you to contact our office and report what you have seen or heard. A dispatcher or Animal Services Representative will take a report and forward the information to a trained Animal Control Officer for investigation. Please call us at:

(619) 767-2675 (metro)
(760) 438-2312 (North County coastal)
(760) 746-7307 (North County inland)

Animal related emergencies and urgent matters may be reported to the Department at any time of the day or night, any day of the week. NOTE: FOR ANY HUMAN LIFE THREATENING SITUATION, PLEASE CALL 9-1-1.

Routine matters may be reported during Department business hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (except County Holidays).