General Information

Why Choose To Adopt?

About the new Nancy J. Brua Animal Care Center

Pet Corner
View adoptable animals

Pet Friendly License Plates

Looking for a way to show how much you love animals? Arizona's Pet Friendly license plate is just the thing for you, and best of all, it will help end pet overpopulation in Arizona!

This specialty plate, available through your nearest Motor Vehicles Division is just $25.00 - and $17.00 from the sale of each pet-friendly license plate is deposited into a fund that it distributed to agencies all over the state to help pay for spay and neuter services for dogs and cats! The City of Sierra Vista has benefited from the fund in previous years. For more info, go to www.azpetplates.org/ .

Lost or Stray Animals

Our primary goal is to reunite the pet with its owner. The best way to do this is to ensure that your pet has some type of identification, such as dog license, id tag, tattoo or microchip. If your pet is missing, contact local animal control agencies (see phone numbers below), the media, your veterinarian, and your neighbors.

When a pet is brought to the shelter, we make every possible effort to notify the owner as quickly as possible. There are minimal fees incurred when an animal is redeemed from the shelter. Please call or come to the office if you have any questions, or wish to file a lost or found pet report.

Vacationing Owners

If someone is watching your pet while you are away from home, call the animal shelter to advise us who the caretaker is and how the caretaker should be contacted. Make sure the caretaker has a copy of the pet's vaccination record and knows what to do in case of a problem or emergency. Supply the caretaker with your vet's name and phone number and inform them of any medical concerns your pet may have and what to do if the animals get loose. Most importantly, leave them with emergency contact information!

Licenses

Arizona state law and city code require that all dogs maintained within city limits be licensed annually. Proof of rabies vaccination is required to obtain a license. If your dog is spayed or neutered, proof of sterilization is also required.

Licenses are valid for a one-year period from January 1 through December 31 of each calendar year, but may be issued for up to three years depending on your dog's vaccination status. A discount applies for multiple-year licenses.

Dog licensing fee schedule:

There is a $2.00 discount per animal for pet owners 62 years of age or older.

Vaccination and Sterilization

Arizona state law and city code require that all dogs be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. This is necessary to obtain a dog license. City code also requires that all cats be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. While not required to be licensed, cats must wear identification or be micro-chipped.

Problem Animals

If you have a problem involving animals, please contact our office to express your concerns. Our staff will work with you to resolve any situation or issues that concern you. Some of the issues we routinely handle are barking and nuisance dogs, dogs running at large, and deceased and stray animals for pick up. Excerpts from the Sierra Vista City Code, Chapter 90: Animals, are available on this website for your information. If you have a problem after normal business hours, call the Sierra Vista Police Department at 458-3311. Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.

Pets are accepted from individulas who live on Ft. Huachuca at a fee of $75.00 per animal.

Unwanted Animals

The Sierra Vista Animal Shelter is obligated to accept all unwanted pets from within the city limits. The owner can bring the pet to our facility during normal business hours. We will accept the animal at no charge. We do request the owner bring the vaccination history of the pet, photo identification, and proof of residency within city limits. Relinquishing your pet to an animal shelter should be your last resort. Remember, owning a pet should be a life-long commitment and we are happy to provide you with tips and assistance to help you keep your pet.

Pet Adoption

We always have great dogs and cats for adoption. On occasion, we have rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, birds, snakes and other miscellaneous pets. Our goal is to place each pet in a long-term loving home. To assist us in this matchmaking, we require all adopters complete an adoption application.

Adoption fees include sterilization, first set of vaccinations, a physical veterinary exam and a micro-chip implant. The adoption fee is $25.00 for cats, dogs and ferrets. All other animals are $5.00.

Our adoptable animals are listed at http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?shelterid=AZ75&preview=1. Some of our special-needs dogs are also listed at http://www.dogsindanger.com/.

Other Animal Agencies

• Arizona Game & Fish Department www.gf.state.az.us
• Benson Animal Shelter 520-586-3500
• Bisbee Animal Shelter 520-432-6020
• Border Animal Rescue 520-432-7964
• Cochise County Animal Control 520-432-9500
• Cochise County Humane Society Veterinary Assistance 520-458-7164
• Cochise County Humane Society Spay/Neuter Assistance 520-803-7385
• Douglas Animal Shelter 520-805-0557
• Huachuca City/Cochise County Animal Shelter 520-456-1337
• Fort Huachuca Veterinary Clinic 520-533-2767
• Willcox Animal Shelter 520-457-2545

Volunteer Programs

The Nancy J. Brua Animal Care Center employs the assistance of volunteers. Volunteers are used for administrative duties, caring for the animals, adoption counseling, helping to socialize the animals, transporting the animals to the veterinarian and any other duty that may help our operation. Our volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. For more information and possible volunteer openings, contact the Police Department's Volunteer Coordinator at 520-452-7500.

Other Ways to Help Local Animals

If you know anyone who is considering adopting a pet, please recommend adopting from an animal shelter or animal welfare agency. The shelter also accepts both supply and monetary donations. We can always use Pedigree Dry Dog Food, Purina Puppy Chow, Purina Cat Chow, Purina Kitten Chow, clay cat litter, Milkbone dog biscuits, and toys, collars, leashes, towels, beds, crates, etc. Please call for a list of other items we may need.

Sierra Vista Animal Code

Selected excerpts from the Sierra Vista Animal Code:

All City Code is available by clicking here

Any person or entity owning or having care, control, or custody of any animal shall ensure:

That potable water is accessible to the animal at all times, either free flowing or in a clean receptacle.

Except for livestock, the animal has access to adequate ventilation and is protected from temperature extremes at all times. In this connection, it is unlawful for any person to keep any animal in a vehicle or other enclosed space in which the temperature is either so high or so low, or the ventilation is so inadequate as to endanger the animal's life or health.  The Animal Control Officer or any Police Officer is authorized to use whatever force is reasonable and necessary to remove any animal from a vehicle or other enclosed space, whenever it appears that the animal's life or health is endangered by extreme temperatures or lack of ventilation within the vehicle or other enclosed space. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the transportation of horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, or other agricultural livestock in trailers or other vehicles designed and constructed for such purposes. (90.40 section B paragraph 2 and 6)

It shall be unlawful for any person to impede any investigation by an Animal Control Officer or Police Officer. Impeding an investigation shall include but not limited to: interfering with or knowingly making a false, fraudulent or unfounded report or statement; or, knowingly misrepresenting a fact for the purpose of interfering with the orderly performance of the Animal Control Officer or Police Officer in the enforcement of this chapter or A.R.S. Title 11.

('76 Code, § 6-1-2) (Ord. 786, passed 9-24-87; Am. Ord. 936, passed 10-28-93; Am. Ord. 938, passed 2-24-94; Am. Ord. 1030, passed 3-27-97; Am. Ord. 1077, passed 10-8-98; Am. Ord. 2005-022, passed 11-11-05; Am. Ord. 2010-001, passed 1-14-10)  Penalty, see § 90.99 [Section 90.50.C.]

Before application for a city dog license is made, the owner must present a rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian, stating the dog owner's name and address, the dog's description, the date of vaccination, the type, serial number, and manufacturer of the vaccine used, and the date for revaccination. [ Section.90.02.C.] NOTE: Proof of rabies vaccination is required to obtain a license.

Dog licenses are valid for a one-year period from January I through December 31 of each calendar year but may be issued for up to three years.  Applications for dog licenses may be made 90 days prior to the start of the licensing year and the license shall expire on the last day of the year.[Section 90.02.F.]

Any person who fails to make application within 15 days after receiving written notification from the Animal Control Officer, to obtain a license for a dog required to be licensed, will be in violation of this section. [Section 90.02.I.]

Applicants who are 62 or more years of age shall be entitled to a Senior Discount. The amount of the discount is articulated in the Animal Control Fee Schedule. No more than four dogs per household shall be licensed at this rate. [Section 90.02.M.]

Every person having charge, care, custody, or control of any dog of any age shall keep that dog exclusively upon his or her own premises. However, the dog may be off of the premises while under the control, custody, charge, or possession of the owner, or other responsible person, and restrained by a substantial chain, leash, rope, or cord of sufficient strength to enable the person to control the dog.

('76 Code, § 6-1-5) (Ord. 786, passed 9-24-87; Am. Ord. 936, passed 10-28-93; Am. Ord. 938, passed 2-24-94; Am. Ord. 1030, passed 3-27-97; Am. Ord. 1077, passed 10-8-98; Am. Ord. 2005-022, passed 11-11-05; Am. Ord. 2010-001, passed 1-14-10)  Penalty, see § 90.99 [Section 90.04]

Every female dog in heat shall be kept confined in the owner's building, a secure enclosure, or in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel, in such a manner that such female dog cannot come in contact with a male dog, except for purposes of intentional breeding. [Section 90.05.C.]

It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain a dog in such a manner that it constitutes a public nuisance. A public nuisance animal is one that:

1. Damages the property of anyone other than its owner,
2. Molests, intimidates, or injures pedestrians or passersby
3. Chases vehicles
4. Maintenance of nuisance animals unlawful. It is unlawful for any person to maintain an animal in such a manner that it constitutes a public nuisance, as defined in § 90.01 of this chapter.. [Section 90.06.A.]

Any animal impounded under the provisions of this chapter and not reclaimed by its owner within 72 hours or 120 hours if licensed, may be humanely destroyed by the Animal Control Officer, or placed into the custody of some person deemed to be a responsible and suitable owner who will agree to comply with the provisions of this chapter and other regulations as shall be fixed by the city. [Section 90.08.A.]

Animal Cruelty

Any person or establishment owning or having care, control, or custody of an animal shall provide:

Sufficient food on a daily basis that is free from contamination, sufficient quantity and of nutritive value to maintain the animal in good health.

Clean potable water at all times, either free flowing or in a clean receptacle.

Convenient access to natural or artificial shelter throughout the year.

Medical treatment and care for debilitating injuries, parasites, and disease, sufficient to maintain the animal in good health.

Adequate exercise space. [Section 90.40.C.1,2,3,4,5.]

Any questions pertaining to the Sierra Vista City Code, Title 9, Chapter 90-Animals, can be answered by telephoning or visiting the shelter during business hours.