Fees

Adoption Fees

Animal adoption fees include spay or neuter surgery cost, first set of vaccinations including a Rabies vaccination (if pet is old enough) and a microchip.  For residents who live in the unincorporated areas of Kern County or in the contracted city of Tehachapi, dog adoption fees also include a one-year County license.

 

Reduced Adoption Fees

Kern County Animal Services consistently offers daily, weekly, or monthly Reduced Adoption Fee events and promotions which allow animals to be adopted at a greatly reduced cost. To see our current and upcoming Reduced Adoption Fee events and promotions, visit our social media pages such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. There's also our ongoing 30 Day Dog and Pets For Vets programs.

 

Standard Adoption Fees

Female Kitten/Cat: $50
Male Kitten/Cat: $40
Puppy < 4 months old: $75
Dog: $85
Dog - Senior Citizen Rate (62 years or older): $75

Adoption fees for other animals (PDF) 

 

Licensing Fees

The license fee structure provides discount incentives when purchasing a multi-year license and/or the dog has been spayed or neutered.

If a licensed natural dog is altered, and one or more full years remain on the term of its license, the owner is eligible for a refund of the difference between the natural and altered license rate for each full remaining year.

10% of the Dog License fees collected annually, rounded up to the nearest dollar, shall be deposited in a Sterilization Trust Fund to augment the Kern County Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program.

Dogs

Altered:
1 Year License: $15
3 Year License: $30

Altered - Senior Citizen Rate (62 years or older; limit of 3 dogs):
1 Year License: $5
3 Year License: $15

Natural:
1 Year License: $60
3 Year License: $120

Service Dog:
No Fee

Other Dog Licensing Fees
Duplicate License Tag: $5
Dangerous Animal (Per Year in Addition to the Fee Above): $150
Dog License Penalty Fees (More than 30 Days Late): $10
Dog License Non-compliance Fee: $20

Cats

1 Year License: $5
Duplicate License: $5
*There is no requirement to license cats in Kern County.

Redemption Fees

Amount you will need to pay in order to pick up your pet after they have been taken to the shelter.

*If you are low income or facing financial difficulties, please ask about our programs that can reunite you with your pet as quickly as possible. Usually the same day.

Charges for Care and Feeding
Dogs/Cats up to 100 Pounds: $20 per Day per Animal
Dogs/Cats over 100 pounds: $25 per Day per Animal
Livestock, Including Exotic Animals: $25 per Day per Animal

County Impound Fees
Licensed Dogs (Altered)
First Impoundment: $15
Second Impoundment: $30
Third and Subsequent Impoundments: $60

Licensed Dogs (Natural - Includes Food and Agriculture Code Fines)
First Impoundment: $50
Second Impoundment*: $80
Third and Subsequent Impoundments*: $160
*Owner is also responsible for cost of sterilization upon second impoundment

Unlicensed Dogs (Altered)
First Impoundment: $40
Second Impoundment: $80
Third and Subsequent Impoundments: $160

Unlicensed Dogs (Natural - Includes Food and Agriculture Code Fines)
First Impoundment: $75
Second Impoundment*: $150
Third and Subsequent Impoundments*: $300
*Owner is also responsible for cost of sterilization upon second impoundment

Female Dogs in Season
$20 per Dog (in addition to care and feeding fees and impound fees)

Cats (Altered)
First Impoundment: $15
Second Impoundment: $30
Third and Subsequent Impoundments: $60

Cats (Natural - Includes Food and Agriculture Code and Fines)
First Impoundment: $50
Second Impoundment*: $100
Third and Subsequent Impoundments*: $200
*Owner is also responsible for cost of sterilization upon second impoundment

Small Animals (Under 25 Pounds, Except Cats and Dogs)
First Impoundment: $25
Second Impoundment: $50
Third and Subsequent Impoundments*: $100
*Owner is also responsible for cost of sterilization upon third impoundment

Large Animals (Over 25 pounds, Except Cats and Dogs)
First Impoundment: $150
Second Impoundment: $300
Third and Subsequent Impoundments: $450

Dangerous Animals
First Impoundment: $150
Second Impoundment, Within 36 months: $300
Third and Subsequent Impoundments, within 36 months*: $450
*Owner is also responsible for cost of sterilization upon third impoundment

Veterinary & Farrier Fees
Veterinary Costs for Impoundment and Redeemed Animals: Actual Cost
Farrier Costs for Impoundment and Redeemed Animals: Actual Cost

Intake Fees

Note: There is no fee for turning in a found animal that does not belong to you.

Good Samaritan Fees
There is no fee for turning in a stray, lost, or abandoned animal that does not belong to you.

Owner Surrender Fees
The shelter is not accepting owner surrenders at this time. Other options here.

Deceased Pet
Delivered to the shelter: $10

Commercial Turn-in Fees
Delivered to the shelter: $15 per animal

 

Commercial Animal Facility Fees (Annually)

1-10 Dogs and/or Cats: $150
11-19 Dogs and/or Cats: $300
20-49 Dogs and/or Cats: $375
50-100 Dogs and/or Cats: $450
>100 Dogs and/or Cats: $450 (Plus $10 per Dog/Cat over 100)

Inspections to Ensure Compliance (Per Hour per Officer after Initial Inspection): $60

 

Miscellaneous Fees

Rabies Test: $40
Rabies Voucher (Under 4 Months of Age): $10
Rabies Vaccination, Dog: $10
Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza (DHPP) Vaccination: $10
Veterinary Costs for Impoundment and Redeemed Animals: Actual Cost
Farrier Costs for Impoundment and Redeemed Animals: Actual Cost
Extended Service Fee (per Hour): $60
Spay/Neuter Voucher: $20
Core Vaccinations, Dog or Cat, Each (Except Adoptions): $10
Feline Leukemia/FIV Test: $15
Microchip: $15

Document Duplication, Postage and Handling: see Kern County Administrative Bulletin #4 

 

The preceding list of fees may not be complete.  Questions?  Call (661) 868-7100 to speak with our staff.