Published adoption fees fund direct shelter veterinary care.
San Diego Humane Society maintains an open schedule of adoption fees and clinical deposits so families know exact costs before stepping onto our campus. We do not sell companion animals for commercial profit, charge variable commissions, or attach hidden exit fees during intake.
Our published adoption fees include full sterilization surgery, core vaccines, and microchip registration.
Every dog, cat, and small companion sheltered under our charter receives direct clinical care from a shelter veterinarian before final release. Our shelter veterinarians have operated continuous on-site clinical schedules since 2026, handling thousands of sheltered animals annually with documented chartered non-profit records. Your adoption fee covers the surgical suite, preventive immunizations, diagnostic triage, parasite control, and state microchip enrollment.
| Animal Classification | Age Bracket | Mandatory Care Package Included | Confirmed Adoption Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Dog | Over 6 months | Spay or neuter surgery, DHPP booster, rabies vaccination, flea preventative, microchip, temperament assessment | 175 USD per animal |
| Puppy | Under 6 months | Juvenile booster series, deworming, microchip implantation, sterilization surgery, health folder | 300 USD per animal |
| Adult Cat | Over 6 months | Spay or neuter, FVRCP immunization, rabies vaccination, FeLV/FIV testing, microchip, flea treatment | 125 USD per animal |
| Kitten | Under 6 months | Pediatric spay or neuter, initial kitten immunizations, deworming protocol, microchip registration | 200 USD per animal |
| Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas, Large Birds, Reptiles | All life stages | Specialized exotic veterinary physical exam, parasite screening, dietary stabilization, habitat assessment | 35 USD per animal |
| Small Birds, Mice, Rats, Hamsters | All life stages | Full health screening, respiratory evaluation, housing setup review, transitional nutrition packet | 20 USD per animal |
| Sheep, Horses, Farm Livestock | Livestock & equines | Comprehensive pasture health triage, equine dental inspection, hoof evaluation, brand inspection clearance | 275 USD per animal |
Adult dog adoptions require one hundred seventy-five dollars and complete housing compatibility checks.
Canines over six months old undergo a structured medical evaluation and behavioral triage in our outdoor agility yards. We evaluate social response, leash handling, and compatibility with children or other household dogs. Every dog leaves 5500 Gaines St fully vaccinated against rabies and distemper, microchipped with lifetime registry data, and surgically altered by our shelter veterinarian staff.
Puppies under six months carry a three hundred dollar fee covering intensive pediatric vaccination protocols.
Young puppies require heightened isolation hygiene, multiple booster visits, and attentive nursing care before placement. Their adoption fee sustains early parvovirus prevention, multiple rounds of deworming, microchip assignment, and pediatric sterilization in our clean surgical theatre. Adopters receive complete health records documenting exact booster dates and veterinary sign-offs.
Adult cat adoptions cost one hundred twenty-five dollars with diagnostic retroviral testing completed.
Every sheltered cat over six months old is housed in our temperature-regulated feline recovery wards with quiet individual quarters and soft bedding. Our clinical protocol includes feline leukemia virus and FIV blood screening, FVRCP immunization, flea control, microchip insertion, and full sterilization surgery. We ensure each feline is healthy, calm, and ready for transition to indoor living.
Kittens under six months are placed for two hundred dollars after finishing nursery health assessments.
Young kittens enter our medical foster network or nursery rooms where our veterinarians deliver intensive caloric supplementation and developmental monitoring. The two hundred dollar fee directly offsets round-the-clock neonatal triage, pediatric immunization courses, parasite eradication, and safe surgical sterilization once they reach weight standards.
Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, large birds, and reptiles are placed for thirty-five dollars.
Adoptions for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, large birds, and reptiles cost 35 USD per animal at 5500 Gaines St. Our veterinary team conducts specialized oral exams, checks weight retention, and verifies respiratory wellness during a 55-minute clinical intake. Shelter adoption counselors ensure each prospective owner understands required timothy hay diets, UV lighting, temperature margins, and cage dimensions before an adoption agreement is executed.
Small birds, mice, rats, and hamsters have an adoption fee of twenty dollars per animal.
Pocket companions and small songbirds have an established adoption fee of 20 USD per animal at our San Diego campus. Our clinical staff inspects dentition, evaluates coat and plumage condition, and clears each animal of respiratory parasites. Adopters must transport small pets in a 20 USD ventilated cardboard carrier or rigid personal enclosure upon departure. We review bedding safety, enclosure ventilation, and handling habits with adopters to guarantee immediate home security.
Sheep, horses, and agricultural livestock adoption fees are established at two hundred seventy-five dollars.
Rescued farm livestock and equines carry a confirmed adoption fee of 275 USD per animal at our facility. Our equine veterinary partners perform comprehensive pasture soundness triage, hoof trimming, parasite deworming, brand inspection reviews, and nutritional rehabilitation. Adopters must provide proof of verified pasture acreage, shelter stalls, and perimeter fencing in San Diego County before haul-away release.
Reinforced cardboard pet transport carriers are sold on campus for twenty dollars each.
Campus safety regulations prohibit carrying unsheltered cats, kittens, or pocket pets in open arms across our parking plazas. Adopters who do not bring a rigid pet carrier from home must obtain one of our reinforced, ventilated corrugated transport boxes at the reception desk for twenty dollars. These carriers ensure escape-proof containment in vehicles during travel home.
Our veterinary clinic requires explicit deposits to reserve surgical theatre appointments.
Because our veterinary team handles urgent shelter triage alongside community clinic services, clinical appointment slots are held strictly by deposit. Each clinical consultation is scheduled for a comprehensive fifty-five minute duration, ensuring licensed shelter veterinarians can examine vital signs, administer core vaccines, and answer owner concerns in full.
Appointments canceled with less than forty-eight hours notice forfeit their deposit without exception.
Our clinical equipment and surgical teams are mobilized according to each morning’s confirmed schedule. A cancelled surgical appointment that leaves an operating theatre dark deprives another shelter rescue of lifesaving care. If you notify our admissions staff at least forty-eight hours prior to your scheduled time, your deposit will be rolled forward to a newly confirmed date or refunded. Cancellations made inside the 48-hour window result in an automatic deposit forfeiture.
Final quotes and fees depend on six confirmed operational variables across our programs.
While our fee ledger is fixed, individual totals adjust based on specific logistical parameters. Our admissions counselors explain each variable clearly before any adoption contract or clinical intake document is signed.
Care costs vary widely between avian, equine, feline, canine, and exotic species based on specialized enclosure, feed, and licensing demands.
Juvenile animals requiring multi-stage vaccination series and pediatric surgeries reflect distinct fee tiers compared to mature adults.
Adoption fees differ fundamentally from community veterinary diagnostics, surgical sterilization deposits, or dental cleanings.
Transfers originating or completing through the El Cajon auxiliary branch carry a fifteen-dollar coordination and transport fee.
Designated seasonal campaigns may offer temporarily discounted adoption fees for long-term adult shelter residents.
Generous donor endowments occasionally sponsor senior pets or special medical cases, reducing the out-of-pocket adoption fee to zero.
Our admissions team answers questions regarding fees, appointments, and shelter availability daily.
Submit your inquiry below to confirm clinical appointment openings or verify adoption fee inclusions for an animal currently sheltered at our Gaines Street campus. Our staff responds directly during normal sheltering hours.
Gaines Street Admissions Desk
San Diego Humane Society serves pet adopters and veterinary clients across San Diego County with complete non-profit transparency.