The Chico Animal Shelter is owned and operated by the City of Chico through the Chico Police Department’s Animal Services Section. If your dog goes missing in Chico, this is the first place to check—Animal Services picks up dogs running at large throughout the city and holds them while working to reunite them with their owners.

The shelter houses and cares for all strays found within city limits, whether they’ve been picked up by Animal Control officers or brought in by concerned residents who’ve found a lost dog. When you call or visit, staff can help you search their available animals and file a lost dog report. If someone finds your dog, they’re likely to bring it here, so getting your missing dog’s information on file quickly makes a real difference.

Beyond lost and found services, the shelter also accepts unwanted dogs from Chico residents who can no longer care for them. Because intake can get backed up, the shelter maintains a waiting list for dogs needing to be surrendered. This means if you’re rehoming your dog, you may need to plan ahead rather than expect same-day drop-off.

Animal Services also handles the official responsibilities that come with any animal shelter—they enforce city animal ordinances, investigate animal-related complaints, and manage rabies quarantines when necessary. It’s a working city shelter, not a no-kill facility, so the staff deals with the full spectrum of animal welfare issues in the community.

If your dog is lost, don’t delay—contact Animal Services right away and ask about checking their current intake. Getting a description on file and asking staff to call you if a matching dog comes in can make the difference between a quick reunion and a longer search. They can also advise you on posting in the neighborhood and connecting with local lost dog networks.