Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you located and what are your hours? Back to top
MCACC has two full-service Animal Care Centers and one Cat Adoption Center.

West Valley 2500 S. 27th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85009

East Valley 2630 W. 8th St. Mesa, AZ 85201

Cat Adoption Center 5231 N. 35th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85071

West and East Valley Hours: Monday Friday  9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Saturday  11:00 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Sunday  12:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.

Cat Adoption Center Hours: Wednesday Friday  11:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday  10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

What vaccines does my new dog need? Back to top
Please see a veterinarian for more information about vaccines and your dogs health. Vaccines are an important part of keeping your dog healthy. Beginning at six to eight weeks of age, puppies should be given a vaccine that protects against distemper and parvo. Your dog will need yearly boosters to remain protected from these diseases.

All dogs over the age of three months are required to be vaccinated for rabies and licensed. The first rabies vaccine is good for one year. Licenses must be renewed annually. MCACC offers rabies vaccines and licenses at all three of our facilities. Click here for our locations and hours.

What vaccines does my new cat need? Back to top
Vaccines are an important part of keeping your cat healthy. Beginning at eight to nine weeks of age, kittens should be given a vaccine that protects against feline distemper and other diseases. MCACC also recommends that you have your cat tested and vaccinated for Feline Leukemia (FELV).

All cats over the age of three months should also be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies vaccine is good for one year. MCACC offers rabies vaccines at all three of our facilities. Click here for our locations and hours. Please see a veterinarian for more information about vaccines and your cats health.

How much is a rabies vaccination and dog license? Back to top
MCACC offers rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats at $34 per vaccine. Just stop by any of our three Centers during regular business hours (2500 S. 27th Ave., Phoenix, 5231 N. 35th Ave., Phoenix, 2630 W. 8th St., Mesa). No appointment is needed. Licenses are $16 for sterilized dogs and $40 for unsterilized dogs. We do not sell cat licenses, but we encourage you to get your cat a collar and id tag. For more information, see our Vaccinations page and our licensing page.

How much does it cost to adopt a pet? Back to top
MCACC has a sliding scale that allows us to care for and place animals that require special medical care. Our sliding fees go up to $150. Adopted animals are spayed or neutered and given age appropriate vaccinations but may need boosters in the future. Dogs over three months will be licensed. We encourage you to microchip your pet as an added measure of protection against loss. Microchips are available for $25.

What kinds of pets do you have for adoption? Back to top
MCACC has many great dogs and cats available for adoption. To find the right one for you, visit one of our Animal Care Centers. We have two full-service facilities, one in Phoenix (2500 S. 27th Ave.) and one in Mesa (2630 W. 8th St.). We also have a Cat Adoption Center in Phoenix at 5231 N. 35th Ave. To see some of our pets, check out our See Our Pets page.

I saw a dog on the internet/at your facility. What can you tell me about him? Back to top
Unfortunately, we are unable to answer questions about the status or availability of specific pets over the phone or via email since our animal population changes constantly. MCACC can receive up to 200 dogs and cats every day. We dont want to give you inaccurate information, so please come visit our facilities.

I adopted a pet from your shelter and he is now sick. What do I do? Back to top
Although all pets adopted from MCACC have had their basic vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery, we cannot guarantee the health of any adopted animal. When you adopt your dog from us, we will provide you with a list of valley veterinarians who will provide a free health check within 10 days of adoption. Please check your adoption paperwork for the list and take your pet in for the checkup. Not all animal diseases have symptoms right away, but a veterinarian will be able to identify any health-related problems.

Unfortunately, MCACC does not have veterinary staff available to provide medical help once a pet is adopted. If your pet is showing signs of illness, take him or her to a veterinarian for treatment. Remember, most illnesses can be easily treated if they are diagnosed early. If you wait to provide treatment for your pet, you risk your pets health and a larger vet bill. If your pet is having complications related to the spay/neuter surgery, please call us at (602) 506-PETS.

I lost my pet. Do you have him? Back to top
Due to the large volume of animals we care for and variation in descriptions, we are unable to tell you over the phone or by email if we have your pet in our care. As we dont want to give you wrong information, please visit our Care Centers every two days to look for your lost pet. You can also visit www.pets911.com or call 1-888-pets911 to register your pet as missing. You should also place flyers in your neighborhood and check at the other shelters in our community. Keep looking for at least 10 days. Many pets are found by community members who may not bring the animal into a shelter for several days. Good luck! To get a sample lost pet flyer, click here.

If I have found a lost pet and the owner does not call, can I keep it? Back to top
In Arizona, the law states that if you keep a dog or cat and care for it for more than six consecutive days, you automatically become the owner of the animal. If you desire to keep the dog or cat for yourself, it is wise for you to contact Animal Care and Control to report finding the animal. That way you have proof as to the length of time it has been in your possession should the original owner come along at a later date and want the animal back.

What other shelters are in the area? Back to top
There are many animal shelters and rescue groups in the valley. For a complete listing of these, please look in the yellow pages or visit the following website: www.pets911.com

I found a dog. What do I do? Back to top
If you have found a stray dog, you can bring the animal to either of our two full-service Animal Care Centers Monday Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday from 12 p.m. 4 p.m. You can bring the dog to 2500 S. 27th Ave. in Phoenix or 2630 W. 8th St. in Mesa.

If you are unable to bring the dog in, you can call us at (602) 506-PETS and an Animal Control Officer will pick up the dog. You can also visit Maricopa Countys Pets 911 web site, www.pets911.com or call 1-888-PETS-911 to see if anyone has posted a notice about a lost dog. You can also post a notice saying you found a dog.

If you see a stray dog in your neighborhood and do not have him in your control, please call (602) 506-PETS so our Animal Control Officers can come out and look for the dog. If you have found a stray in Peoria, Surprise, El Mirage, Youngtown, Avondale, Mesa, Buckeye, or Wickenburg, please call your local police department.

Once a stray dog enters our Center, he is held for a minimum of 72 hours in the hope of finding the owner. If the dog is licensed, microchipped or tattooed, we will attempt to contact the owner and hold the dog for up to five days.

Once the holding period is up, the dogs health and temperament are evaluated to determine eligibility for adoption. Once an animal is determined adoptable, there is no set time period that he is held for adoption.

If you are interested in adopting a stray that you turned in, please let us know when you turn him in or call us at (602) 506-PETS within 24 hours of turning him in. You can pre-adopt the dog, and take him home after the 72 hour holding period. After our clinic performs spay/neuter surgery, they will contact you to pick up your new pet. If we do not hear from you, we will not hold the dog and he will be evaluated for adoption status.

In Arizona, the law states that if you keep a dog or cat and care for it for six consecutive days, you automatically become the owner of the animal. If you desire to keep the dog or cat for yourself, it is wise to contact Animal Care and Control and report finding the animal. That way, you have proof as to the length of time it has been in your possession should the original owner come along at a later date and want the animal back.

I have found a cat. What do I do? Back to top
You can bring a stray, non-feral cat to our East or West Valley Animal Care Centers. You can also visit the lost and found web site at www.pets911.com or call 1-888-pets911 to see if anyone has posted a notice about a lost cat. You can also post a notice saying you found a cat.

Once a stray cat enters our Center, he is held for a minimum of 72 hours in the hope of finding the owner. If the cat is wearing identification, we will attempt to contact the owner and hold the cat for up to five days. Once the holding period is up, the cats health and temperament are evaluated to determine eligibility for adoption. Once an animal is determined adoptable, there is no set time period that he is held for adoption.

In Arizona, the law states that if you keep a dog or cat and care for it for six consecutive days, you automatically become the owner of the animal. If you desire to keep the dog or cat for yourself, it is wise to contact Animal Care and Control and report finding the animal. That way, you have proof as to the length of time it has been in your possession should the original owner come along at a later date and want the animal back.

There are a lot of stray cats in my neighborhood. What do I do? Back to top
We appreciate your concern about free-roaming (feral and tame) cats. There are no local ordinances that cover such issues. We cannot come and pick up cats unless they have bitten a person. However, you may bring a stray, non-feral cat into our East or West Valley Care Centers.

What is the difference between a stray and a feral cat? Back to top
A stray cat is an un-owned animal that you see in your neighborhood that is friendly and enjoys human contact. A feral cat has had little or no human contact during its natural life. Many people consider feral cats to be nuisances because they reproduce at an alarming rate, resulting in more cat problems and public health concerns.

MCACC is concerned about the health, safety and welfare of cats in our communities, as well as the publics health. We have over 20 years of documented proof that the traditional ways of dealing with feral cats dont work. The catch and kill method of population control, i.e., trap a cat, bring it to a shelter, ask the shelter to euthanize the cat, has not reduced the number of feral cats. Even though the cat is gone, it leaves an opening for another cat to move into the cat colony, which can cause fighting, spraying territory and more breeding.

After many years of study, MCACC has taken a proactive stand in the way we believe feral cats should be handled and controlled. The Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) of feral cats is a proven, humane method of feral cat population control. Through TNR, cats are humanely trapped and sterilized. The cats are ear-tipped (one centimeter is removed from the tip of the left ear) to identify they are part of a managed colony, and returned back to the environment in which they were living. Volunteer caretakers provide food, water and clean, unobtrusive shelters for the cats.

MCACC advocates the development of a TNR program in every community where feral cats are a problem. The program stabilizes feral cat populations, reduces birth rates, and improves the overall health of cat colonies. With the support of neighborhood volunteers, the felines live safely and peacefully within their territory. Typical feral problems are practically eliminated and the incidence of disease and malnutrition are greatly reduced.

National studies have shown that when cats are removed from an area, more cats move in. If you sterilize the population, you will stop the constant flow of kittens and the colony will keep other cats from moving into the area. Eventually, through natural attrition, the colony dies out. TNR also helps to stop many of the undesirable behaviors that come with unsterilized cats loud mating, territorial fights and spraying. To learn more about feral cats and TNR, call AzCATS Arizona Cat Assistant Team at 480-968-4TNR or visit them on the web at www.azcats.org

I found an injured animal. What do I do? Back to top
If you have found an animal that needs to be rescued, has been hit by a car, or has a life-threatening injury, please call the Arizona Humane Society at (602) 997-7585. Or, if you live in Peoria, Surprise, El Mirage, Youngtown, Avondale, Mesa, Buckeye or Wickenburg, please call your local police department.

My pet is in your shelter. What will it cost to get him out? Back to top
If your pet is currently at one of our shelters, you will need to pay impound and other fees before he can be released to you. The fees vary depending on the type of pet you have, the amount of time your pet stays in our facilities, and other factors. To find out what it will cost to release your pet, come on in or call (602) 506-PETS.

I saw a pet on TV. How do I adopt him? Back to top
In general, all of our media pets are available for adoption on the day that they were featured in the media. Adoptions are first come, first serve at the location the pet was taken from. Please call (602) 506-PETS to find out more information about the locations. Pets are featured at the following times:

• Every Saturday on channel 12 at 9:30 a.m.
• Every other Tuesday on channel 12 at 11:30 a.m.
• Every other Sunday on channel 15 at 7:10 a.m.
• First Wednesday of the month at the Board of Supervisors meeting on cable channel 11 at 9:10 a.m. (seen throughout the week)
• Fourth Tuesday of each month on 94.5 KOOL FM Radio at 8:40 a.m.

I was cited by an MCACC officer. What do I do? Back to top
If you have been cited by an Animal Control Officer, then you have been issued a ticket that outlines the details of the steps you need to take. Please refer to your citation for the date, time and location of your hearing.

I cant afford to get my pet spayed or neutered. Can you help? Back to top
MCACC has a variety of low-cost spay/neuter options. We have spay/neuter clinics at different locations around the valley. MCACC also has a low-cost voucher program. Please see our Spay/Neuter section for more information.

My dog bit someone. What do I do? Back to top
If your dog has been involved in a bite to a human, please call (602) 506-PETS to report the bite incident. All dogs and cats that have bitten are required by law to be quarantined for ten days. Dogs that were not leashed at the time of the bite or do not have a current Maricopa County dog license or a current rabies vaccination are usually quarantined at one of our facilities or at a veterinarians office. Animals that are vaccinated and licensed at the time of a non-severe bite may be quarantined in the owners home at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer. For more information, please see our Field Services section regarding dog bites.

A dog bit me. What do I do? Back to top
If you have been bitten by a dog, please seek appropriate medical attention. Then call (602) 506-PETS to complete a bite report. Animals are not held as vicious unless a vicious dog petition has been filed with the court. If a vicious dog petition is not filed within ten days, the owner will have the opportunity to get the dog back. Anyone can file a vicious dog bite petition and then a judge will determine if the dog is vicious. For more information, please see our Field Services section regarding dog bites.

How do I turn in my pet to your shelter? Back to top
MCACC can receive anywhere from 100 to 200 dogs and cats a day. We are unable to place them all due to lack of space, resources and homes. If you are planning to surrender your animal to a shelter, please reconsider turning your pet into a shelter should be a last resort. There is no guarantee that your pet will find a new home.

If you feel that you have no other choice but to surrender your pet to us, we can accept them at our West and East Valley facilities Tuesday Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The actual pet owner must accompany the surrendered pet. There is a $51 surrender pet fee. Be aware, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to find a home for all the pets in our Centers. There are other animal care agencies in our community. For a listing, call 1-888-Pets911 or visit www.pets911.com

My pet died. What are my options? Back to top
You can bring your deceased pet to MCACCs East or West Valley Care Centers for disposal. Sorry, we do not cremate. If you are unable to bring the animal in, please contact your local sewage and sanitation agencies for further assistance.

How many pets can I have in my house? Back to top
Maricopa County does not limit the number of animals a person can keep in their home. However, all pets must be well-cared for and provided adequate food, water and shelter. Additionally, all dogs must be vaccinated for rabies and have a current Maricopa County dog license. For information on how to vaccinate and license your dog, please call (602) 506-PETS or see our licensing and vaccination pages. Many towns and cities limit the number of pets a resident can have. Be sure to contact your local authorities to find out what limits apply in your area.

Who can I do about a dead animal on the road? Back to top
MCACC only takes reports of dead dogs and cats in the unincorporated sections of Maricopa County. Citizens living in all other areas should contact their specific city for the appropriate dead animal pick-up numbers. To report a dead dog or cat in the unincorporated section of Maricopa County, please call (602) 506-PETS.

Are you a No-Kill shelter? Back to top
MCACC is an open-admission municipal animal shelter. We are obligated to take in any dog or cat that comes through our doors, regardless of its condition. MCACC is one of the largest animal shelters in the country, receiving over 55,000 dogs and cats each year. Although we do our best to find every healthy, adoptable pet a good home, we are not a No-Kill facility. Through a variety of programs, we make every effort to place all adoptable animals in our care. Still, MCACC receives anywhere from 100 200 dogs and cats every day. Some of these animals are euthanized due to lack of resources and homes. No-kill facilities have limited space and resources as well, but they can also limit their intakes. MCACC works with many No-kill agencies in the county to help place the adoptable pets in our care. For a list of No-kill shelters in the area, please call 1-888-PETS911 or visit www.pets911.com

How do I report animal cruelty or dog fighting? Back to top
Reports of animal cruelty should be reported to your local law enforcement agency. If you live in unincorporated Maricopa County, then call the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. They have the legal authority to investigate animal cruelty complaints.

My neighbors dog keeps getting out. What do I do? Back to top
Stray dogs can be a nuisance or even a danger to themselves or others. All dog owners in Maricopa County are required to keep their dogs confined or on a leash. They also must have current rabies vaccines and licenses. If someone in your neighborhood has dogs that are running loose, please call our Field Department at (602) 506-PETS. If you live in Surprise, El Mirage, Youngtown, Avondale, Mesa, Buckeye or Wickenburg, please call your local police department.

My neighbors dog barks all the time. What do I do? Back to top
There are no county ordinances regarding nuisance barking, although some towns and cities have their own local statutes concerning this issue. Please call your local authorities to find out.

My neighbor lets his dog poop in my yard. What do I do? Back to top
MCACC enforces leash laws, pet licensing, and animal bite issues. For other animal-related neighborhood problems, contact your local authorities to find out about local ordinances that may apply to your situation.

My neighbor has aggressive dogs. What do I do? Back to top
MCACC enforces leash laws, pet licensing, and animal bite issues. However, anyone can file a vicious dog petition, even if the dog has not yet bitten. If you feel the dog is a real threat, file a claim with your local city or justice court.

My neighbor is not taking care of his pets. What do I do? Back to top
Suspicions of animal cruelty or neglect should be reported to your local law enforcement agency. If you live in unincorporated Maricopa County, call Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. Those enforcement agencies have the legal authority to investigate animal cruelty complaints.

My pet is sick and I cant afford to take him to the vet. Can you help? Back to top
Unfortunately, MCACC does not have the resources to provide veterinary services to the public. If your pet is ill or injured, please contact your veterinarian or look in the yellow pages.

My pet needs to be put to sleep. Can you help? Back to top
Deciding to put your pet down is a difficult decision. The best environment for that would be your veterinarians office. We understand that the cost can make that impractical. Unfortunately, MCACC does not have the appropriate facilities for private euthanasia requests.

Someone is poisoning my cats. What do I do? Back to top
The outdoors can be a dangerous place for your cat. An outdoor cat encounters many dangers from poisonous anti-freeze and other chemicals, to cars, dogs and feline diseases. For this reason, MCACC strongly encourages cat owners to keep their cats indoors at all times. Indoor cats live five to seven times longer that a cat living outside. If you believe that your cat is being poisoned, report it to your local law enforcement agency. If you live in unincorporated Maricopa County, call Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. Those enforcement agencies have the legal authority to investigate animal cruelty complaints.