Animal Behavior Programs

Animal Control

Community Outreach

Continuing Care

Dealing with Loss

Disaster Preparedness

Education Programs

Front Office Services

Our Thrift Store

Report Animal Abuse or Neglect

Resource Library

Spay/Neuter Clinic

Wildlife Care Center

Animal Control

PHS/SPCS is a private, nonprofit under contract with San Mateo County (and its cities) to provide state-mandated services. Highly trained PHS/SPCA officers provide animal rescue, pick-up stray and injured animals, remove dead animals from public right-of-way (except freeways/highways which are maintained by CALTRANS), and enforce laws that protect animals and people. Barking dog complaints are handled by individual cities’ police departments – not PHS/SPCA.  Also, PHS/SPCA is contracted to pick-up dead or live wildlife on private property only when such wildlife has had direct contact with humans and/or domestic animals which involved a bite or attack. In all cases, PHS/SPCA officers prioritize calls. For example, a call for a dog stuck in traffic will be prioritized over a call for a stray, confined dog or a deceased cat, since the dog in traffic is still directly in harm’s way.

Handling “nuisance” wildlife

PHS/SPCA responds to calls for sick or injured wildlife, but our contract does not include removal of nuisance wildlife (raccoons, squirrels, skunks, raccoons, deer, etc.) from private properties.  PHS/SPCA advises residents to seek and remove that which is attracting the nuisance wildlife -- usually inadvertent food or water supplies or shelter – and provides humane tips (see tips of living with local wildlife). Residents can pay an animal trapper or pest control company to remove nuisance wildlife, but this is largely ineffective; new wild animals simply claim the open habitats.

A note about Humane Investigations and Animal Cruelty…

Our Humane Investigation work is funded entirely by donations and is carried out by Humane Investigators -- not by Animal Control Officers or Humane Officers.  As evidenced by media accounts, we take this work seriously and our team is a model for other humane organizations across the country. When we receive an animal cruelty call or complaint, we review it fully and take necessary action, which could range from an “education-only” visit to removing an animal from harm’s way and forwarding a report to our District Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution. If you are aware of an animal being abused, please call 650/340-8200. See Reporting Animal Abuse or Neglect and San Mateo County Animal Laws.