Sonoma
County
Animal
Services
Adoption of Animal
Services Fee Schedule
FY26-27
Brian Whipple, Director of Animal Services – Sonoma County Animal Services Michelle Rene, Community Relations Supervisor – Sonoma County Animal Services Mission
Protect the health and safety of people and
animals.
Investigate and prosecute animal cruelty and
neglect.
Educate the public about responsible domestic
animal ownership.
Reduce pet overpopulation through spay/neuter
programs.
Provide a safe environment for animals in need.
Place adoptable animals into caring homes.
Updates
Body-worn cameras for Animal Control Officers
Updated security system for facility
Providing private cremation options through
Koefran for pet owners
Grand Jury Report for animal services throughout
Sonoma County
Fees adjustments from December 2024 to fiscal
year 2026-2027
How we support Santa Rosa
Increasing patrol to ensure dogs are leashed in
public spaces.
Contracting with a veterinarian to ensure
adoptable animals, including foster-to-adopt, are
spayed neutered.
Providing low cost spay and neuter programs for
the public.
Partnering with Humane Society of Sonoma
County for free vaccination clinics.
How we support Santa Rosa
Managing surrenders and intakes to avoid kennel
over-population.
Licensing with DocuPet includes automatic
national registry to help lost pets get home without
coming to the shelter.
Responding to wildlife calls.
Planning in place for emergencies, including
natural disasters.
Calls July 1 2025-May 7 2026
Animal Type # of Calls
Animals at risk 399
Police/Fire Assist 112
Animal Bites, in
progress
6 Animal bites, all 240
Public nuisance 157
Stray aggressive 138
Proactive 409
All calls 2365
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND Board Fees
Animal Type Proposed Fee Current Fee
Dog $37.00 $30.00
Cat $13.00 $10.00
Small Animal $15.00 $13.00
Livestock $60.00 $50.00
Impound Fees: ACO
Type Proposed Fee Current Fee
Dog 1st, licensed $ 96.00 $ 85.00
Dog 1st, unlicensed $124.00 $110.00
Dog, 2+ $200.00 $180.00
Cat, altered $ 67.00 $ 60.00
Cat, unaltered $ 45.00 $ 40.00
Small Animal $ 73.00 $ 65.00
ACO Field Release
(unlicensed/
unaltered dogs/cats)
$115.00 $100.00
Impound Fees: Public/OTC
Type Proposed Fee Current Fee
Dog 1st,
licensed
$ 90.00 $ 80.00
Dog 1st,
unlicensed
$117.00 $105.00
Dog, 2+ $190.00 $170.00
Cat, altered $ 45.00 $ 40.00
Cat, unaltered $ 60.00 $ 50.00
Small Animal $ 56.00 $ 50.00
Impound Fees: Livestock/Exotic
Type Proposed Fee Current Fee
Livestock/head 1st $140.00 $120.00
Livestock/head
2nd
$340.00 $300.00
Livestock/head 3rd $622.00 $585.00
Livestock impounds are per household and
transportation costs are additional
Exotic $ 73.00 $ 65.00
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Intakes Outcomes July 1 2025-May 7 2026
Intakes Birds Cats Dogs Other
Confiscate 6 27 135 2
Owner Board 0 7 3 0
Quarantine 0 12 13 18
Surrender 2 43 50 0
Stray 19 420 533 20
Total intakes 33 627 819 48
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Outcomes Birds Cats Dogs Other
Adoption 8 169 150 5
Return 1 70 398 4
Transfer 11 197 120 29
Total outcomes 27 673 824 54
License Fees
License/Tag Type Proposed
Fee
Current
Fee
Altered Dogs $18.00 $16.00
Altered Dogs, Senior
Rate (owners 62+)
$15.00 $14.00
Unaltered Dogs $22.00 $19.00
Late Fee $ 10.00 $ 9.00
Cats (lifetime) $14.00 $14.00
Replacement tags $14.00 $14.00
Licenses sold July 1, 2025-May 7,
2026
7699
Dangerous Dog Fees
Fee Type Proposed Fee Current Fee
Potentially
Dangerous/Vicious,
1 st year, voluntary
$565.00 $500.00
Potentially
Dangerous/Vicious,
1 st year, court ordered
$850.00 $750.00
Potentially
Dangerous/Vicious,
2 nd+ year, annual
$175.00 $155.00
Collar, Leash and
Sign
$112.00 $108.00
Dangerous Dogs July 1 2025-May 7 2026
Type # of Registrations
Potentially Dangerous/Vicious,
1st year, voluntary
6 Potentially Dangerous/Vicious,
1st year, court ordered
4 Potentially Dangerous, 2nd+ year 23
Vicious, 2nd+ year 4
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Questions?