Animal Control
Effective October 1,2025, the City of Imperial Beach contracts with the San Diego Humane Society. These include animal care services such as shelter and licensing, and animal control.
Contact Information
Animal Control: 619.299-7012 ext. 1
Emergency After-Hours Dispatch: 619.299-7012
Animal Shelter: 619.299-7012
Email:info@sdhumane.org
San Diego Humane Society Animal Care Facility
500 Gaines Street
San Diego, CA 92110
www.sdhumane.org
General Business Hours
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CLOSED on Mondays
Adoption Hours
Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
CLOSED on Mondays
For any human life-threatening situation, call 9-1-1
Call 619.299-7012 for animal-related concerns such as bites, suspected cruelty, neglect, injured animals or sick or injured wildlife and stray animals running at large.
Animal Control Field Services
San Diego Humane Society is responsible for responding to animal related calls for service from the public including picking up injured domestic animals, monitoring and responding to bites and enforcing rabies related quarantines, addressing dangerous domestic animal situations, investigating cruelty, abuse, neglect and more.
Other Services for Residents
Dead Animal Removal
Dead Animal Removal: 619.390-8204
The City of Imperial Beach contacts with D.A.R. Services for dead animal removal services. The provider is available 24-hours a day, 7 days per week. D.A.R. Services will remove dead animals from public streets, parks, beaches, right-of-way and other public property.
Dog Licensing
San Diego Humane Society has partnered with DocuPet to provide an enhanced pet licensing experience. Pet licenses can be purchased and renewed online.
Visit DocuPet to license your pet and pay your dog license fee.
Each DocuPet tag serves as a pet’s official license and comes equipped with the HomeSafe™ 24/7 lost pet service, which relies on a dedicated full-time dispatch staff and linked pet profiles to help get lost pets home quickly.
Wild Animals
If you find an injured, ill or orphaned wild animal, please visit Wildlife Help Hub.
Leash Laws
Keeping dogs on leash when in public not only protects other animals and people, but it keeps them safe as well. It is illegal to walk your dog off leash unless you are in a designated off-leash area.
The law specifies that:
- Dogs are required to be restrained at all times.
- Away from home: a dog must be on leash unless he is in a designated off-leash area, like a beach or park.
- At home: a dog must be restrained by a fence or other containment system.
Even if you are confident your dog will stay by your side without a leash, it could still make other dogs uncomfortable and put your dog in danger. Leash laws are in place to ensure the safety of dogs, humans and other animals. Violators maybe cited under Imperial Beach Municipal Code Section 6.04.060.