When to Call Animal Control Services

Animal control services are provided by local governments to help with dangerous and stray animals, investigate animal bites and prevent animal cruelty. You may call your local animal control services if you suspect a wild animal has rabies, report a lost animal, report animal abuse, report a violation of an animal ordinance, or request an educational presentation for your community or place of employment.

Report Stray and Nuisance Animals

• Call to report stray, loose or nuisance animals. Be prepared to give a description and the problem caused, your name, address and phone number, and the name of the animal owner, if applicable.


• If the stray animal has a rabies tag, read the tag number to the officer on the phone, and he can then trace the owner.


• If you have a problem with a wild animal, such as a raccoon, call animal control and they provide instructions for catching and trapping. Once it is trapped, animal control officers pick it up.

Report Animal Bites

• Due to danger of rabies, animal bites and scratches must be reported to animal control.


• If you or someone else was bitten by your pet, you must report the bite. You may be allowed to keep the pet confined in your home if its rabies vaccination is up to date. It must be examined by your veterinarian after ten days. If the animal dies during this time, animal control may examine the pet’s remains for rabies.


• If bitten by a wild animal, such as a raccoon or fox, call animal control immediately. If unable to find and catch the wild animal, you must  go through a series of anti-rabies shots.

Report Animal Cruelty

• Complaints of abuse and neglect, dog fights and cock fights can be reported anonymously. However, it is important to provide as much information as possible.


• When reporting cases of animal cruelty, photos and videotapes can be very helpful.


• Dog and cock fighting is illegal, and can be reported to animal control or police.