The Animal Control Officers of Palo Alto Police Department provide complete Animal Control services to the cities of Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills. If you encounter a stray dog or need to report concerns about an animal’s welfare, they handle matters ranging from stray animals and sick or injured animals to aggressive behavior, bites, and cruelty or neglect cases. They also manage wildlife issues, animals in distress, and can handle livestock or pet show permits along with other animal-related municipal code violations.

Since February 2019, Pets In Need operates the Palo Alto Animal Shelter at 3281 East Bayshore Road, taking over the day-to-day shelter operations. This is the place to go if you’ve lost a dog in the area—they maintain lost and found reports and can help you search for your missing dog. The shelter also handles dog licensing, which you’ll need to complete for any dog in your household.

Beyond emergency services, the shelter offers several ongoing programs that dog owners in the region use regularly. They run spay and neuter clinics as well as vaccine clinics, so you can get preventive care handled locally. If circumstances change and you need to surrender a dog, the staff can discuss your options. The shelter also manages feral cat situations through trap rentals and dedicated feral cat management programs.

The shelter welcomes volunteers who want to help with dogs and cats, and they run community outreach programs throughout the three cities they serve. Whether you’re dealing with a lost dog, need to license your dog, want to adopt, or require animal control assistance, this is your local resource. Stop by the shelter on East Bayshore Road during business hours, or contact Animal Control through the Palo Alto Police Department if you have an urgent situation or need to report a stray or injured animal.