Animal Control Services  

Effective July 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 Dispatch and All Inquiries: 619-299-7012
SDHUMANE.org

San Diego Campus serves: Central and South San Diego

5480 Gaines St. (Admissions)
5500 Gaines St. (Adoptions & Mailing Address)
San Diego, CA 92110

Open Tuesday-Sunday
General Business Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Adoption Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Dog Licensing

SD 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:

Project Wildlife serves: San Diego County

Pilar & Chuck Bahde Wildlife Center
5433 Gaines St.
San Diego, CA 92110

Business Hours:
Daily: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Ramona Wildlife Center
18740 Highland Valley Road
Ramona, CA 92065
Business Hours:
Daily: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

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.