Admissions Policy

What is Pets Lifeline's animal admissions policy?

Pets Lifeline is a private nonprofit organization operating as a limited-admission shelter. We partner with Sonoma County to accept animals when space and resources allow, ensuring that every animal in our care receives the attention, medical support, and shelter they need. This approach helps us manage intake responsibly while maintaining a high standard of care for every pet we serve.

Our Policy

Microchipping & Vaccination Policy

All animals entering Pets Lifeline’s care will receive a microchip and core vaccinations.

NOTICE: As of January 1, 2022, California State Bill 64 (Sections 31108.3 & 31752.1) requires all stray animals to be microchipped before release. This law helps reunite lost pets with their owners, reducing shelter populations and shortening stays.

Stray Animal Policy

Pets Lifeline accepts stray dogs and cats from Sonoma Valley when space allows. Before intake, reasonable efforts must be made to locate the owner, including checking for microchips, ID tags, and lost pet reports.

Stray animals without identification are held for 7 consecutive days (beginning the day after intake).
Stray animals with identification are held for 14 consecutive days (beginning the day after intake).

After the mandatory stray hold period, unclaimed animals become the property of Pets Lifeline and, by law, must be spayed or neutered before adoption.

Suspected cases of animal abuse are referred to Sonoma County Animal Services (SCAS), which oversees both city and county investigations. If an animal is deemed dangerous, Pets Lifeline consults SCAS for further evaluation and guidance.

Relinquished Animal Support & Rehoming

Our goal is to provide resources and support to help pets stay in their homes whenever possible. We offer counseling and services to address behavioral or medical concerns, working with pet owners to find solutions that prevent surrender.

For those needing to rehome their pet, we provide guidance and the option to list the animal on our Rehoming Page to connect with potential adopters directly.

Owner Surrenders
Pets Lifeline accepts owner surrenders from Sonoma Valley on a case-by-case basis, depending on shelter capacity and a behavioral evaluation.

Surrenders are by appointment only, subject to space availability.
Owners must complete an intake form detailing the pet’s history, behavior, and medical background.
A minimum $50 surrender fee is requested to help cover the cost of care.

Our priority is to ensure the best possible outcome for both pets and their families.

Transferred Animals

Pets Lifeline partners with other shelters and rescue organizations to transfer in animals under specific conditions:

The shelter is a coalition partner with Pets Lifeline.
We have available space and staff while maintaining capacity for local stray intakes.
The animal is not deemed dangerous or severely ill.

Transferred animals undergo a 7-day evaluation period upon arrival. Once they pass a health assessment and are spayed/neutered, they become available for adoption. All transfers are subject to capacity and resource availability to ensure we can provide proper care.

Feral Cat Policy

Pets Lifeline accepts feral cats for health checks and spay/neuter services by appointment only. After surgery and evaluation, the cats are returned to their original location by the finder. This approach supports Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts, helping to manage the local feral cat population while ensuring their well-being.

For a full list of our partners, visit our Policies and Positions page.

Dog Habitat Configuration

Pets Lifeline carefully manages kennel space to ensure the best care for every dog in our shelter. We have a total of 15 kennels, divided into three categories based on adoption status, medical needs, and intake holds.

Available (11 Kennels)

These kennels house dogs available for adoption, which can be viewed online and met in person by appointment. Some adoptable dogs may be in foster homes, requiring a scheduled meet-and-greet.

Intake decisions depend on our current capacity, staffing, and resources to ensure proper care.

Breakdown of Available Dog Kennels:

3 kennels for dogs over 50 lbs
4 kennels for dogs 30-50 lbs
4 kennels for dogs under 30 lbs

Open (1 Kennel)

This kennel is reserved to accommodate fostered dogs that may need to return to the shelter or for dogs under medical care or observation, such as those recovering from surgery or illness.

Quarantine (3 Kennels)

These kennels house strays and are also used for transfers and owner relinquished dogs while we attempt to reunite them with their owners. Strays are not posted online as available for adoption. If a stray is not reclaimed after the legally required stray hold period, they become Pets Lifeline property and transition into the adoptable kennels. If a match has already been identified from our adopter waitlist, the dog may be placed directly into a new home.

This structured approach ensures each dog receives appropriate care while allowing us to responsibly manage adoptions, medical cases, and stray reunifications.

Capacity Limits

Pets Lifeline’s shelter is designed to serve the local Sonoma Valley animal population. When we reach high capacity, we implement strategies to ensure we can continue serving our community effectively:

Foster Program: We call on PLL Foster Program members to provide temporary care for animals.
Transfers and Transport: We collaborate with coalition partners to transfer animals when possible.
Reallocating Kennels: In urgent cases, we may use stray or medical isolation kennels to house adoptable animals, though this is not ideal, as it limits our ability to manage medical cases, prevent outbreaks, and take in new strays.

Waiting Lists

We maintain a waiting list for dogs and have adoption applications on file for potential matches. Some dogs are placed directly into homes without ever being listed online, allowing for a shorter shelter stay and a smoother transition to adoption. This is always our best-case scenario, ensuring animals spend minimal time in the shelter before finding their new families.

Shelter Utilization

There is no set percentage a shelter should be occupied—our priority is always the quality of care each animal receives. We aim to move animals into adoptive homes or foster care as quickly as possible, minimizing their time in the shelter while ensuring their well-being.

Our primary mission is to serve the Sonoma Valley community, but when resources allow, we use excess capacity to support our coalition partners in times of need. This balanced approach ensures we remain focused on our local population while extending help to other shelters when possible.