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LIMITED HOURS ADVISORY FOR ANIMAL SERVICES
Animal Services will close Wednesday July 2, 2008 for staff training. The division will be available for animal related emergencies. All other business functions will resume Thursday July 3, 2008 with normal business and kennel hours.

 FOURTH OF JULY ADVISORY FOR PET OWNERSWith the Fourth of July approaching, the Division of Animal Services is reminding animal owners to plan ahead to ensure that their pets remain safe during the holiday period. While fireworks displays are an integral part of the holiday celebration for many people, they can be very distressing for our pets. Loud cracks and booms from fireworks may cause animals to attempt to escape or flee from the noise. Many of these animals wind up lost and disoriented, brought into shelters, or even hit by cars when they run into traffic. A few simple precautions can help protect your pets and minimize the stress or anxiety which is often caused by fireworks:
  • Don’t take your pets to fireworks displays. Even with their owner nearby, many animals will become agitated and stressed. They may injure themselves or others in attempts to escape.

  • Keep your pets in a safe, quiet indoors location. If they will be unattended, remember that they may become destructive when frightened and remove any items which they might damage or which could be dangerous if chewed on. Leave them with some familiar, favorite items such as a chew toy or blanket. Leaving the radio or television on at a normal volume may also be calming and provide them with a sense of companionship.

  • If you know your pet is significantly upset by loud noises, consult with your veterinarian to discuss ways to minimize their fear and anxiety. Some animals may benefit from the short term use of mild sedatives.

  • Never leave your pets outside alone. Even in a fenced yard, dogs which wouldn’t normally try to escape can panic and flee. Tethered animals can easily become entangled and injure themselves.

  • Don’t walk or leave pets standing on asphalt. The hot surface can cause burn sensitive paw pads and can contribute to overheating.

  • Make sure that your pets are wearing a collar with up-to-date identification tags in case they do get lost. Microchips are helpful for identifying animals brought into a shelter, but won’t help neighbors or the general public contact you directly if they find your pet.

  • If your pet is lost: Contact Animal Services to file a lost animal report (781-4400); make regular visits to the shelter to look for him; check the Animal Services website daily (www.slosheriff.org/animal); call the Division’s lost pet hotline for a daily recording of animals brought to the shelter in the last 24 hours (781-4407).


Shelter Information
The Animal Services Division serves the citizen's of San Luis Obispo County by receiving homeless, stray and owner relinquished animals from across the county at the shelter. Animal Services' staff serves the community by assisting to identify solutions to animal related problems, enforcing local ordinances and state laws relating to animals, and performing rabies control and monitoring for the county.

Volunteers and staff also conduct community oriented programs such as Camp PAWS, Humane Education, and Heeling Touch.

Street Address: 885 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo

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Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4110, San Luis Obispo 93403

Hours of Business:
      Office Hours   Kennel Hours   Adoption Hours   
Monday, Tuesday   8:00AM - 5:00PM8:00AM - 5:00PM8:00AM - 4:30PM
Wednesday8:00AM - 7:00PM8:00AM - 7:00PM8:00AM - 6:30PM
Thursday, Friday8:00AM - 5:00PM8:00AM - 5:00PM8:00AM - 4:30PM
Saturday9:00AM - 4:00PM9:00AM - 4:00PM9:00AM - 3:30PM

Effective May 12th, 2008
Hours of Business:
      Office Hours   Kennel Hours   Adoption Hours   
Monday, Tuesday   8:00AM - 5:00PM11:00AM - 5:00PM11:00AM - 4:30PM
Wednesday8:00AM - 7:00PM11:00AM - 7:00PM11:00AM - 6:30PM
Thursday, Friday8:00AM - 5:00PM11:00AM - 5:00PM11:00AM - 4:30PM
Saturday9:00AM - 4:00PM11:00AM - 4:00PM11:00AM - 3:30PM

Phone Numbers:
   Animal Services   781-4400      
Lost/Found Animals781-4407 (New Animals Daily @ 6pm)
Volunteers781-4413

SPAY/NEUTER ASSISTANCE
San Luis Obispo County Animal Services $20.00 assistance certificates are available at this time. The certificates can be used toward the cost of spaying or neutering your pet through local veterinarians. Certificates are available for all county residents. Animal Services is allowing three certificates for dogs and/or cats per household. Dog owners will be required to provide a copy of their dog’s license with the expiration date. Call Animal Services at 781-4400 for further information.

Certificates are available at the following locations:
  • Animal Services 885 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo

  • Sheriff’s South Station 1681 Front St., Oceano

  • Sheriff’s North Station 356 North Main St., Templeton

ADOPTION AND FEE INFORMATION

Adopting an animal from the shelter is easy and inexpensive. All you have to do is come down to the shelter, pick out the animal you want to adopt, fill out some paperwork, pay a small fee, and the animal is yours.

Spay/Neuter: Currently county ordinance (Co. Ord. 9.08.100) and state law
(Food and Ag 30503(a) and 31751.3(a)) mandates that all dogs and cats
adopted from the shelter are spayed/neutered prior to release. A rabies
appointment will be made at the veterinarian of your choice at the time of
adoption.

Rabies Vaccination & License: All dogs greater than four months of age and
Residing in the county for 30 days or more must be licensed and vaccinated
Against rabies (Co. Ord. 9.08.160-170).

Click Here for the Fee Schedule

LICENSING

The San Luis Obispo County Code and the municipal codes of each incorporated community state that all dogs older than 4 months of age and residing in the county for more than 30 days must be licensed. These licenses are issued through the Animal Services office. Fees for licenses vary based on an animal’s reproductive status and duration of the license. However, all fees collected for animal licenses go directly to supporting the shelter and Animal Services operations.

In addition to assisting in the promotion of public health and safety through compliance with rabies vaccination requirements, licenses also benefit dogs and their owners as well. Animal Services is able to search our databases and identify the owner of a dog wearing a license tag should it be lost. In cases where an animal is impounded while wearing a current license tag, the first impound fee is also waived.

In order to obtain a license, proof of a current rabies vaccination must be provided with the license application. Applications may be downloaded here or may be requested in person, by mail or by phone from our office. Applications are also available at several area veterinarians and pet stores.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM RABIES

Contact with nature universally satisfies the senses. Yet in that contact lies potential danger. In 2000, SLO County had 18 cases of animal rabies: 9 skunks, 7 bats, 2 fox.

Most importantly, there have been several human exposures in which persons have gone through post-exposure treatment! Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be contracted by any warm-blooded animal. The disease can be prevented, but not cured, so it is important that residents of our community take a few simple precautions to prevent exposure and infection.

Make sure you, your family, and your pets are adequately protected by following these guidelines:
  • Make sure all your companion animals are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Dogs should always wear their license tags.

  • Supervise your pets to prevent exposure. Obey leash laws, which are enforced in all areas of SLO County, and keep your pets restrained.

  • If another person’s pet bites you, try to find the owner. Contact your doctor and the County Division of Animal Services within 24 hours.

  • Teach your children to stay away from wild animals or animals they don’t know.

  • If wild animals, especially skunks, raccoons, or bats are lurking around your property and acting sick or abnormal, call Animal Services.

  • Avoid handling wild animals. Feed pets indoors and keep trash tightly covered.

  • Keep your home in good repair to prevent animals from entering through cracks and crevices. Use strong metal mesh to cover potential entryways such as chimneys, dryer vents, and holes in the eaves.

If you are bitten or scratched, follow these guidelines:
  • Wash all wounds and contact areas with soap and water. Washing five to ten minutes can destroy as much as 90% of the virus.

  • Contact your doctor.

  • Call the Division of Animal Services to report the incident. Provide authorities with an accurate description and owner information.

  • Capture and isolate the animal if possible, but don’t risk further injury if the animal is dangerous.

If your cat or dog has been attacked, follow these guidelines:
  • Call your pet’s veterinarian even if the wound is superficial.

  • Remember, animals don’t have the luxury of receiving post exposure treatment for Rabies. That is why it is vitally important that your animals be vaccinated and their boosters be kept up-to-date.

  • For more information on Rabies or other animal-borne illness, contact the SLO County Public Health Department or Animal Services.
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