Northern Ocean County Animal Facility
615 Freemont Ave, Jackson, NJ 08527
732-657-8086 |nocaf@ochd.org
Southern Ocean County Animal Facility
360 Haywood Road, Manahawkin, NJ 08050
609-978-0127 |socaf@ochd.org
Welcome! The Ocean County Health Department operates two animal facilities.
The Ocean County Animal Facilities provide temporary housing for dogs and cats and maintains a 24-hour receiving service for stray animals that are brought in by Municipal Animal Control Officers. Features of the shelters include indoor/outdoor dog runs, cat rooms, isolation areas, and surgical facilities.
Animal Adoption
Both Facilities OfferCats and Dogs for Adoption
Every pet we adopt out is spayed/neutered, microchipped, up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations, and have received a general health exam by our facility veterinarian, all included with your adoption fee.
Dogs & Puppies: $60 | Cats & Kittens: $55
Our General Adoption Policy:
- Everyone in the house-hold (for dog adoptions this includes any dogs that live in the home) need to meet the pet prior to adoption
- Proof of Residence – Homeowner: mortgage statement or tax bill. Rental: lease with pet policy stating any specifications of breeds and number of animals allowed
- Driver’s License or valid proof of identification
- Fill out an Adoption Questionnaire and get it approved by Facility Management
- Exact Cash or a check with an address matching that on the Driver’s License (Dogs are $60; Cats are $55)
ALL ADOPTIONS ARE ON A FIRST COME/FIRST SERVE BASIS.WE CANNOT PLACE ANY HOLDS ON ANY PETS.
Our Pets
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Surrendering a Pet
If you are an Ocean County Resident (proof required), and can no longer care for your cat or dog, you can surrender them to the Ocean County Animal Facility. Online versions of our surrender forms can be accessed below, if you would like to fill them out in advance, but you must bring them with you when you come in to surrender. If you need to surrender a pet, we strongly recommend you call us, so we can completely go over all of the information with you.
Surrender Fees
Cats: $45 per cat | Dogs: $65 per dog
(must be cash or check only)
Lost and Found Pets
The Ocean County Animal Facilities receive and house stray cats and dogs for the majority of Ocean County. If you are missing a pet there are a few important steps you should take:
- 1. Fill out the Lost Pet Report, and email it, along with a picture of your pet to us.
Jackson Facility Email: nocaf@ochd.org
Manahawkin Facility Email: socaf@ochd.org - 2. File a lost pet report with your local municipal Animal Control. View the animal control directory.
- 3. Call our facilities to follow up with your lost report. Lost reports are added to our Lost Pet Book, however, we do get new animals in every day. It is a good idea to keep checking back with us. Also when you find your pet, please call us to let us know, and we will remove your report from our active book.
Free Rabies Vaccination Clinics
Jackson (Northern OCAF)
1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month | Phone –732-657-8086
Manahawkin (Southern OCAF)
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month | Phone –609-978-0127
Clinics run from 10:30am to 12pm, and we take a total of 60 appointments per clinic.
There is a maximum of four pets per person. Cats and dogs only, kittens need to be at least 3 pounds for vaccination, puppies need to be at least 12 weeks of age. Dogs must be restrained on a proper fitting collar or harness and leash. Cats need to be secured in a carrier.
If your pet has received a prior rabies vaccination, bring in the certificate, or vet records indicating the vaccination, and the vaccine your pet receives will be valid for 3 years. If you do not have proof of a prior rabies vaccination, or if it is the first time your pet is receiving the vaccination, the shot will be valid for 1 year. Please bring the proof of prior vaccination with you, as we will not be able to look up anything or contact your veterinarian when we are in the middle of the clinic.
Staff will meet the arriving resident car side for completion of initial paperwork and the pet owner is encouraged to allow their pet to be taken into the building to receive the rabies vaccine while the owner remains in their vehicle after which the pet will be returned to the vehicle following vaccination.
In the event the pet requires owner assistance, only one member of the public and his or her pet shall be permitted to enter the building with a staff member for the vaccination.
Both of our facilities offer free rabies vaccinations available for the public for cats and dogs.