Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation
Our Mission
At Sacramento County Bradshaw Animal Shelter, we are dedicated to keeping both animals and people safe and healthy through compassionate care and education. Our mission is to save lives, improve animal well-being, and support our community with trusted animal services.
Who We Are
As one of Northern California’s largest shelters, we serve as a vital community hub for lost and homeless animals. We operate as an open-admission municipal shelter, meaning we never turn away an animal in need, providing every pet with a safe, caring place until they find their forever home.
Our Care Model
Our dedicated team provides comprehensive support for every animal that comes through our doors, including medical assessment, daily care, and socialization. We also rely on a passionate community of volunteers and foster care providers who offer extra love and temporary homes for pets as they recover or wait to meet their new families.
Your Partner in Adoption
We believe that finding a new companion is a joyful, lifelong commitment, and our staff is here to help you make the perfect match. By adopting from us, you give a shelter pet a much-deserved second chance while opening space for another animal in need. We work closely with potential adopters to understand your lifestyle and home requirements, ensuring a happy transition for both you and your new furry friend.
Start Your Journey
Whether you are looking to adopt, volunteer, or simply learn more, we invite you to connect with us today. Please visit our website to view our current list of adoptable dogs, cats, and other animals, or stop by our Bradshaw Road location to meet our wonderful residents in person.
- Caring and dedicated staff
- Successful animal medical services
- Restrictive adoption/visitation policies
7/16 - Sacramento County program will let you take a shelter dog on free park adventures
It's a free pass to take a walk in the park this summer if you include a new four-legged friend. Sacramento County's animal shelter is kicking off a new program called Barks and Recreation, encouraging people to take dogs out for the day.
5/3 - Sacramento woman says pet’s death part of broader cat abuse concerns in Sacramento
After cat’s death, Sacramento woman warns of what she says is a growing problem
10/11 - Meet Poe (A929521), a 9-year-old Great Pyrenees who looks like someone took a polar bear, added a little toasted marshmallow coloring and gave him the personality of a distinguished gentleman who appreciates a good belly rub. And by appreciates, I mean HE WILL LITERALLY ROLL OVER AND REQUEST ONE. He also offers his paw when he wants affection, which is a level of politeness I wish more people would demonstrate in public. Poe walks nicely on leash, has a lovely, easygoing energy and is apparently quite comfortable letting the humans around him know when it’s time for a little attention. And can we discuss his coat??? The volume. The fluff. The subtle cream coloring. I feel like he should have a shampoo endorsement deal. Now, Poe is a Great Pyrenees, and these magnificent dogs come with some specific breed needs. We encourage anyone interested in adopting him to do a little research to make sure they’re prepared for life with a very large, very fluffy dog. One particularly important thing to know about Poe is that he’s sensitive to heat. Sacramento summers are no joke, especially when you’re walking around wearing what appears to be an entire winter comforter. He’ll need a home that can keep him cool and protected from the elements. He’s also participated in shelter playgroups and may enjoy a compatible canine friend. If you have a dog at home, bring them along for a meet-and-greet! But here’s what keeps getting me. Poe is NINE. He’s at an age where he deserves comfortable places to rest, leisurely walks, belly rubs on demand and someone who thinks his enormous fluffy face is the best thing they’ve ever seen. And I KNOW that person is out there. So if you’ve been dreaming of adopting a gentle giant with a little gray around his muzzle and an absolutely unreasonable amount of fluff, I would love for you to meet Poe. His next chapter deserves to be a really good one. ❤️ Come meet Poe (A929521) at Bradshaw Animal Shelter.
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10/5 - SHELTER MYTH: “I can’t visit an animal shelter. It’s too sad.” I hear this one a lot. And I understand why people think that. Are there hard days here? Of course. There are animals who arrive scared, confused or missing the only home they’ve ever known. But if you think walking into an animal shelter means walking into a building filled only with sadness, I wish you could see what we see every day. Because there is SO much love here. ❤️ There’s the dog who sees their favorite staff member coming down the kennel row and immediately starts wiggling their entire body. The cat who was hiding in the back of their habitat and now comes running forward because they’ve learned that person brings treats and scratches. There are volunteers spending their free time walking dogs, cuddling cats, going on adventures and sitting quietly with nervous animals simply because they love them. There are staff members who know which dog takes their meds well, celebrate tiny wins nobody else sees and send me photos because “you HAVE to post this one.” They clean, feed, walk, treat, comfort and care for these animals knowing that, eventually, they’ll have to say goodbye. And that goodbye is exactly what we’re hoping for. Because somewhere outside these walls is the person who gets to love that animal next. Shelter life isn’t always easy. But sad isn’t the word I would use to describe it. It’s hopeful. It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s zoomies, purrs, slobbery kisses and entire teams cheering when a long-term resident finally leaves with their family. The people who choose shelter life do it because they love these animals. And these animals have so much love left to give. So if you’ve avoided visiting because you think your heart can’t handle it, come see us. You might be surprised by how much love your heart finds here. ❤️🐾 BradshawShelter.net
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10/2 - 🐾 Your next job could change thousands of lives. We’re hiring a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) to join our PAWS team at Bradshaw Animal Shelter! This isn’t your average clinic job. Our PAWS program takes veterinary care directly into the Sacramento County community, helping pets and the people who love them access the care and resources they need. We’re looking for someone with skill, patience, compassion and a whole lot of heart. The work? Meaningful. The patients? Adorable. The team? Pretty amazing. 🐶 Permanent, full-time 📍 Sacramento County 🩺 California RVT registration required Ready to bring your skills somewhere they can make a real difference? Apply here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sacramento/jobs/5389977/registered-veterinary-technician?keywords=registered&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs Know an RVT who would be perfect for PAWS? Tag them. Send them this post. Tell them we have puppies. 🐾
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10/1 - 🎉 CARAMEL APPLE IS SAFE! 🎉. Our girl is officially leaving the shelter today! 🚗💨 A massive THANK YOU to the incredible veterinary technicians for Cleft affected animals for stepping up to save her. Please drop them some love in the comments for everything they do for our community pups! 🩺❤️ To everyone who tagged rescues and shared her story—YOU made this freedom ride possible. Thank you for saving this special girl! 🍏✨ #FreedomRide #CleftStrong #RescueDog #SpecialNeedsPuppy
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