Escambia County Animal Welfare provides animal shelter, adoption, and animal control services for Escambia County and the City of Pensacola. Services include pet adoptions, lost and found pets, owner surrenders, stray animal response, pet licensing, and enforcement of local and state animal welfare laws. Pet Licensing Dogs and cats in Escambia County are required to be licensed annually. Visit the Escambia County Animal Welfare website for current licensing requirements, fees, and registration information. Lost Pets If your pet is missing, check 24PetConnect and select Escambia County Animal Services under the “I Lost A Pet” section. If you believe your pet is at the shelter, visit the facility in person. Because the shelter cares for many animals and the population changes daily, staff may not be able to identify lost pets by phone or email. Bring proof of ownership such as photos, veterinary or vaccination records, identifying markings, tags, or microchip information. A state-issued ID or driver’s license is required to reclaim a pet. Visit the county website for current redemption fees and requirements. Adoptions Available pets are listed on 24PetConnect under the “Adopt” section. Cats and kittens can be viewed at the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center without an appointment. Dogs and puppies can also be viewed at the shelter. To interact with a dog, speak with the front desk to arrange time in a play yard. Having the animal’s name or Animal ID number will help staff locate the pet. Adoptions are generally first come, first served, and pets cannot be placed on hold. Stray Animals For safety, Escambia County recommends reporting stray animals to Animal Welfare Enforcement rather than attempting to capture them yourself. Shelter capacity and staffing may limit the county’s ability to immediately accept stray animals. If you have already picked up a stray animal, contact the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center to ask whether a drop-off appointment is available. If the shelter cannot accept the animal, staff may provide information about local rescue organizations. Owner Surrenders The shelter encourages pet owners to explore alternatives before surrendering an animal and may be able to provide resources to help families keep their pets. Owner surrenders are accepted by appointment. Contact the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center to discuss surrender options, available appointments, rescue contacts, and other possible rehoming resources. For current policies, fees, hours, and requirements, refer to the official Escambia County Animal Welfare website.
Helps with: Found a stray, Lost pet, Rehome a pet, Adopt