Animal Control
Updated June 14, 2017
The Cerritos Sheriff's Station/Community Safety Center contracts with Long Beach Animal Care Services for a variety of services. Long Beach Animal Care Services is available on a 24-hour emergency call basis to pick up stray, injured or dead animals. The office is located at 7700 East Spring St. in Long Beach and can be reached by calling (562) 570-7387. Animal adoption is handled by SPCALA housed at the same location and can be reached by calling (562) 570-7722.
Adopt a Pet
Cats and dogs are available for adoption at the Long Beach Animal Care Services kennel at 7700 East Spring St. in Long Beach. The kennel is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The kennel is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and holidays.
Animal adoption is available through SPCALA located at 7700 E. Spring Street in Long Beach. Dog adoption is $125, cat adoption is $105 and rabbit adoption is $50. Adoption fees include the spay/neuter surgery, a certificate for a free health exam at a participating VCA clinic, and initial de-worming and vaccinations.
Number and Types of Pets Allowed
Cerritos residents are allowed to own up to three dogs per household. If four or more dogs live at a residence, the owner is required to purchase a dog-kennel license. Pets that are allowed without a license include canaries, chipmunks, cockatiels, finches, gopher snakes, guinea pigs, hamsters, king snakes, parrots and other members of the psittacine family, turtles, tropical fish (except caribe), white mice and white rats. Residents are not allowed to own chickens.
Dog Licenses
Dogs owned by residents of Cerritos must be licensed each year. Licenses may be obtained in person at the Cerritos Sheriff's Station/Community Safety Center or by contacting Long Beach Animal Care Services at (562) 570-7387. A rabies certificate which is valid for 12 months must be presented at the time of purchase.
The license fee is $20, or $10 if the dog has been spayed or neutered. Seniors 60 and older may purchase a dog license at half-price for their animals. For additional details on dog licenses, call the Community Safety Division at 916-1266.
Barking Dog Complaints
Barking dogs are a common complaint, particularly in the warm weather when windows are open. The City has established a barking dog ordinance establishing regulations to address excessive dog barking.
Leash Law
A dog running free has a much greater chance of getting seriously injured or lost, or of causing harm to the neighborhood. For this reason, the City of Cerritos requires all dogs to be kept on a leash no more than six feet long when they are on any public street, public park, alley or public place, or on any unenclosed land or property. Dogs roaming free are subject to being picked up by Long Beach Animal Care Services, and their owners may be fined. Residents must also clean up any animal waste created by their pets in a public park, on the sidewalk or curb areas.
