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Where are your shelters located and what are your hours?
Do your shelters have animals available for adoption? What does it cost to adopt a dog or cat from one of the County Animal Shelters? Are any of your cats or dogs free of charge? Do you give shots to all of the animals in the shelters? Do you spay and neuter animals at the County Animal Shelters? Does my dog or cat have to be spayed/neutered? If the dog or cat just doesn't work out or gets sick, will you refund my money? Do the San Bernardino County Animal Shelters offer veterinarian services? Do you board animals? If I leave a deposit, will you hold an animal for me? I've lost my pet, can you help me? I have found an animal, but I don't want to turn it over to you, what should I do? I need to give up my pet, but I don't want to release it to you, can you help? What happens if I release my pet to your shelter? Will it cost me anything to give you my pet? If I release my animal to you, can you guarantee an adoption? Will you call me if your can't find a new home for my pet? Are you a no kill shelter? How do you put animals to sleep? What do you do with your dead animals?
Devore Animal Shelter
19777 Shelter Way, Devore, CA 92407 (909) 887-8055 Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10-6:30 Wednesday 10-7 Saturday and Sunday 10-5 Big Bear Animal Shelter San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control
There are almost always a good variety of dogs and cats available for adoption at our Devore Animal Shelter. The Big Bear Shelter is a very small facility with limited space. Sometimes other types of animals, such as rabbits and guinea pigs are also available. Puppies and kittens are more likely to be available for adoption in the Spring and Summer months. *Please note that the department advocates that adoption is a commitment for the lifetime of the animal. Accordingly, we discourage "impulse" adoptions, especially the week before Christmas and Easter. Call your local shelter for additional information.
Click on Adoption Fees for information.
There is an adoption fee for all cats and dogs. The San Bernardino County Animal Shelters do not believe in giving away an animal for free because that does not place any value on the animals. If you cannot afford to pay the adoption fees how are you going to be able to care for the animal for the rest of its life? Pets require food, shelter, vet care, toys, grooming, dental care, collars with ID tags, licenses, leashes, carriers, a bed, training, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Yes. Every dog and cat is vaccinated against common animal diseases when the animal enters the shelter. Exceptions would be if the animal is placed under quarantine, is vicious and would be a hazard to the staff during vaccination, pregnant animals, nursing puppies or kittens, animals known to already be currently vaccinated, or if a veterinarian has instructed that the dog or cat not be vaccinated.
No. We have contract veterinarians that perform spay and neuter services on adopted animals. Dogs over 8 weeks old that weigh at least 5 pounds and cats over 10 weeks old that weigh at least 2 pounds at the time of adoption are spayed/neutered before they can go home with their new owners. Dogs under 8 weeks old and/or do not weigh at least 5 pounds and cats under 10 weeks old and/or do not weigh at least 2 pounds at the time of adoption can go home the day they are adopted as long as the owner signs a contract stating they will have their new pet spayed/neutered by a date specified by the shelter and they leave a spay/neuter deposit. It will be up to the new pet owner to find a veterinarian who can perform the operation, however, our staff is more than happy to supply you with a list of local vets. Just remember that state law requires that any animal adopted from an animal shelter MUST be spayed/neutered.
If you adopt an animal from our shelters or any other humane organization it is the law that you MUST spay/neuter your pet. If you already own a pet we strongly encourage you to spay/neuter them. Not only does this help reduce the pet overpopulation problem, but it is also in the best interest of your pet's health. For example, animals that are spayed/neutered have a reduced risk of cancer, they are less aggressive towards other animals (but not less territorial), they have a reduced tendency to roam, and it lets your pet relax and enjoy being a part of the family. Owners of altered dogs also receive a large reduction in dog licensing fees.
When you adopt a pet from one of our shelters, you must sign a return policy statement, which explains that we do not provide cash refunds. However, you do have 14 days to return the animal for any reason and then 30 days from that date to choose another pet.
 
Other than vaccination fairs, the shelters do not offer veterinarian services to the public.
We are not a boarding facility.
No. All adoptions take place on a first come first serve basis. While visiting our shelters if you find an animal that you would like to adopt and you do not have enough cash (or a Visa/Mastercard) with you our staff can place a 1 hour hold on the animal to give you enough time to go to the bank and retrieve the money. There are no time extensions and if you do not return within the allotted time, the animal will once again be made available to other potential adopters.
Pet owners are encouraged to come to the shelter in person to identify their lost pets. Many animal descriptions are in the eye of the beholder. The pet you describe may not be as we see the animal. Opinions differ in describing animals. Only you can positively identify your pet if it is not wearing identification, and remember tags can come loose and fall off. We also have a lost/found book that you should place your information in (photographs are encouraged). This may help us reunite you and your pet. You should also check your local newspapers found animal ads. If you are lucky enough to be reunited with your pet make sure that you get him a collar with an ID tag. You may also want to think about getting a more permanent type of identification for your pet such as a tattoo or microchip.
 
You are required to make an honest and reasonable attempt to locate the owner. Many newspapers will run found animal ads for free. In addition, we highly recommend that you notify the local animal shelter so that staff can place the description and other information about the animal in the lost/found book.
The first thing we suggest is contacting friends and family members who may be able to provide a home for your pet. If no one can take your pet we can offer alternative resources to you. Our shelters have a network of rescue groups that may be able to assist you in finding your animal a new home.
Pets that are able to be held for a 4-day adoption (which requires a fee) will only be held for that amount of time. If we cannot find a home for the animal it will be put to sleep.
Animal shelters exist to house stray animals, not owned animals. The animal shelter should be the absolute last place you take your beloved pet. Being a pet owner is a big responsibility and it is up to you to find a home for your pet if you can no longer keep it. Try asking friends and family members if they can care for your pet and place advertisements in your local newspapers. Call breed rescue to see if they can take your pet (our shelters can provide you with phone numbers). Do everything you possibly can to find a home for your pet. If you must bring your pet to the animal shelter there will be a fee involved and you must prove that you are the owner of the animal. Please call the shelter for more details.
Unfortunately, we are not in control of what the public is looking to adopt. We certainly hope for the best for all of our animals, but we cannot guarantee any particular animal will be adopted.
No. You must check on the status of your pet prior to the end of the 4-day adoption hold. If it is not adopted you may redeem your pet on the 4th day at no additional cost.
No and there truly is no such thing as a "no kill" shelter. While it is true that animals that are taken to so-called "no kill" shelters will not be euthanized, what happens to all of the animals that are turned away from these facilities? What do you think happens to them? Where do they go? The answer is, they end up at shelters just like ours. Our shelters accept all animals in their service area. The majority of animals that end up at the shelter are stray, however some are sick, terminally ill, injured, aggressive and vicious. Many of these animals are not suitable for adoption so they are humanely put to sleep. We do our best to find good homes for the adoptable animals, but unfortunately we cannot keep every animal that is not adopted. And truly, it would not be fair to the animals that would still be left alone, lonely, and confined to a cage day after day. Dogs and cats are social animals that need the care and companionship of people. We are trying hard to decrease the pet overpopulation problem. That is why we encourage responsible pet ownership and why we go out into the community and conduct educational classes about the importance of spay/neutering. The shelters also offer shelter tours that always include an educational component, we host special events (i.e. Spay Day USA, Be Kind to Animals Week), and we do other promotional activities as well (i.e. press releases, brochure/flyer development, etc.). Unfortunately, not everyone is hearing and/or listening to our message,
which is why so many animals continue to suffer.
We euthanize all animals by lethal injection. Two staff members are involved in the process. One person to hold and comfort the animal, the other to inject the drug. This is the most humane method to put an animal to sleep and it is over within a matter of seconds.
Our dead animals are picked up and disposed of by an animal disposal service.
  
24 hour help line
1-800-472-5609 |
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