PAWS of Coronado operates the island's only animal shelter at 1395 First Street in 92118, managing adoptions, dog licensing, and lost-pet recovery under contract with the City of Coronado. The no-kill facility places dogs, cats, and other domestic animals year-round. For additional adoption options, Point Loma shelters are a short drive across the bridge.
Yes. PAWS of Coronado — the Pacific Animal Welfare Society — operates the Coronado Animal Care Facility at 1395 First Street and places adoptable dogs, cats, and occasionally exotic pets with new families. Founded in 2003, PAWS is a no-kill nonprofit contracted by the City of Coronado to handle all animal services on the island, and the organization is committed to 100% placement of adoptable animals.
Adoption walk-in hours are Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon, though scheduling an appointment is recommended if you have a specific animal in mind. The facility is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for general visits and services. Adoption fees vary by animal and typically include spay/neuter, vaccinations, and microchipping.
The PAWS adoption process starts with an online application through pawsofcoronado.org. After submission, an adoption coordinator contacts applicants within 48 hours. Dog adoptions require a virtual home check that takes about 20 minutes, followed by an in-person meet-and-greet with the animal. If the fit looks right, families complete the paperwork and take the pet home the same day.
Cat adoptions follow a similar process without the home check. PAWS places animals into foster homes as part of its care network, so some adoptable pets may not be at the facility during walk-in hours — calling ahead or reviewing available animals on the PAWS website saves a trip. The organization also partners with other San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition members, so if PAWS doesn't have the right match, they can refer to shelters in Point Loma and elsewhere in the county.
PAWS of Coronado handles far more than adoptions. As the city's contracted animal services provider, PAWS manages dog licensing for all of Coronado, runs the lost-and-found pet program, provides microchip scanning, and handles stray and surrendered animals. The organization receives all animals legal to own within Coronado city limits — not just dogs and cats but also exotic mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Volunteers play a central role in PAWS operations. The cat-petting and dog-walking volunteer programs socialize shelter animals and improve their outcomes, and PAWS regularly posts volunteer opportunities on its website and social media. Financial donations support the organization's medical fund, which covers diagnostics, surgery, and behavioral rehabilitation for animals that arrive with significant health or behavioral challenges.
For residents who cannot adopt but want to help, PAWS runs a foster care network that places animals in temporary homes while they await permanent adoption. Fostering is particularly helpful for kittens, puppies, and animals recovering from surgery who thrive better in a home environment than in the facility.
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