Animals and Wildlife

Animal Control

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

Adopt cats and dogs 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

Each Cerritos household may own up to three dogs. If four or more dogs live at a residence, the owner is required to purchase a dog-kennel license. 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 do not require a license. Residents are not allowed to own chickens.

Dog Licenses

Dogs owned by Cerritos residents 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 $250 or $28 if the dog has been spayed or neutered. Seniors 60 and older may purchase a dog license at half-price. For details, call the Community Safety Division at (562) 916-1266.

Barking Dog Complaints

The City enforces a barking dog ordinance establishing regulations to address excessive barking. For more information or to report a complaint, call the Community Safety Division at (562) 916-1266.

Barking Dog Ordinance (CMO 8.13)

Barking Dog Enforcement Procedures

Leash Law

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 waste created by their pets in a public park, on the sidewalk or curb areas.