San Diego Humane Society leaders announced Wednesday that they are extending adoption hours for the summer starting April 17 and continuing through Sept. 13, in an effort to help clear crowded shelters.
The adoption centers at the organization’s El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego campuses will now remain open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The SDHS is closed Mondays.
“We are working harder than ever to make adoption the best option for anyone looking to add a pet to their family,” SDHS President and CEO Gary Weitzman said. “By extending our hours, we hope to make it more convenient for the community to visit our campuses and meet the more than 700 wonderful animals who are ready for their new families.”
SDHS officials say they entered 2026 with a 22% increase in animals compared to the start of 2025. As of early April that trend has continued, with 1,470 animals now in care. The biggest increase is with dogs, up nearly 25%.
Animals are also staying in the shelter longer. The average length of stay for dogs has jumped 22%, to 67 days since last year. Adoption rates are down nearly 10%.
All pets available for adoption can be viewed at sdhumane.org/adopt.
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