The Rohnert Park Animal Shelter is run by the City of Rohnert Park under the direction of the Department of Public Safety. They currently contract with the City of Cotati to provide sheltering services for stray animals and will accept owner surrenders from their residents as space allows. As a municipal, open-admissions shelter, they take in animals found stray within their jurisdiction, animals that owners no longer can care for, and injured and abused animals. They also hold animals under bite quarantine for rabies control.

The shelter’s annual intake averages about 1,200 animals now—a significant decline from a high of 2,100 in 1999. That improvement didn’t happen by accident. The shelter runs proactive monthly Fix-it Clinics offering residents free cat spays and neuters along with very low-cost dog altering services. The goal is straightforward: reduce the number of kittens and puppies arriving at the shelter in the first place. The numbers show this approach is working.

Beyond intake management, the shelter also operates the “No More Lost Pets” program, generously funded by the Animal Shelter League of Rohnert Park. Through this program, residents can get free ID tags and microchips for their dogs. It’s a practical recognition that the easiest lost pet to handle is one that can be quickly reunited with its owner through proper identification. When your dog gets out unexpectedly—and if you have a dog long enough, it probably will—having both a tag and a microchip dramatically increases the chances of a quick reunion rather than a shelter stay.

If you’re adopting or surrendering an animal, or if you’ve found a stray in the area, this is your local shelter. They’re also worth contacting if you want information about the low-cost spay and neuter clinics or if you need those free ID tags and microchip services.