New County Animal Shelter Under Construction in Santee

Published Thursday, January 30, 2025

The City of Santee has contracted with the San Diego Humane Society since 2018 to provide animal services. Santee residents know to contact the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) to report a stray or barking dog, to locate a lost pet, or for other human law enforcements services. Santee residents can call (619) 299-7012 (press 1) for animal control issues. Additionally, Santee residents with lost pets or seeking other in-person animal services should go to the SDHS’s El Cajon Campus, located at 1373 N Marshall Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020.  

There is currently a new animal shelter under construction in Santee on the northwest corner of Magnolia Avenue and Riverview Parkway, which may cause some confusion.  The new County of San Diego Department of Animal Service Animal Shelter is intended to serve residents of the of East and South County, but it will not provide animal control services for Santee.  The new shelter will be a 23,000 square foot, $37 million dollar facility that will include shelter space, a secure and open courtyard, an outdoor livestock area, activity yards, and a public parking lot. The County facility is expected to open later this year and will provide the following services:

·         Spay/neuter services, vaccinations, and basic pet wellness services for the public

·         Emergency response deployment hub

·         Pet adoption

While the addition of a new animal shelter in Santee is certainly good news for local animal lovers, residents should continue to contact the San Diego Human Society for animal control issues.

In addition to the City of Santee, the San Diego Humane Society provides animal services to the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Solana Beach and Vista. To learn more about animal services available to Santee residents, visit the SD Humane Society’s website.