Does Animal Control Charge for Service Calls?

If you’re dealing with a stray dog, a raccoon in your attic, or your neighbor’s dog who’s always howling at the moon, you may feel like you need to call for help. But who do you call?  You know animal control is available, but will they even deal with your issue? And if they do, does animal control charge for service calls?

Below, we break down what animal control does, when it makes sense to call them, and what kinds of situations could come with a fee.

TL;DR: Most animal control agencies don’t charge fees for responding to service calls. Calling them is similar to contacting your local police or fire department. However, fees may apply for certain services, such as picking up your pet, daily boarding at the shelter, or licensing violations.

What is animal control?

Animal control is a service that helps manage the relationship between humans and animals in our communities. They respond to calls about lost pets, stray or aggressive animals, wildlife in urban areas, and potential neglect or animal cruelty cases. They are also responsible for enforcing animal-related laws and providing shelter for animals in need. Their goal is to keep both people and animals safe.

Animal control agencies are usually run by local city or county governments, and their work is funded through public tax dollars. The officers themselves may be employees of the city or work as contractors. 

The way they handle enforcement and community issues will vary from city to city. Some animal control officers have the power to arrest or write tickets, while others cannot. In some communities, animal control is the responsibility of the police department (which means they may carry firearms) or code enforcement, while other communities may contract private businesses or shelters for animal control. Regardless of how animal control is run, most of the services they offer, especially emergency responses or general welfare checks, are provided at no cost to the caller.

Reasons you should consider calling animal control

• You found a lost or stray pet.

• You suspect an animal is being abused or neglected.

• A dog is running loose without a leash.

• An aggressive animal is threatening people or other pets.

• You see a sick or injured wild animal in a public area.

• If you see an animal (whether wild or a pet) exhibiting signs of rabies and/or acting aggressively.

• You’re dealing with a nuisance wildlife situation in your neighborhood.

What is animal control allowed to do? 

Depending on your area, animal control officers might have the authority to:

• Enforce leash laws and pet licensing requirements

• Issue citations for animal cruelty or neglect

• Remove dangerous or injured animals

• Transport lost or stray pets to shelters

• Quarantine animals who have bitten someone

Keep in mind that animal control laws are different everywhere. For example, animal control in some cities will help with trap-and-release efforts for community cats, but they cannot help in other cities. It’s important to check with your local animal control to understand when they can and cannot help.  

Common issues some animal control agencies can’t help with

• Trap or transport wild cats or feral cats

• Unless animals are sick, injured, or a threat to the community, animal control often cannot deal with wildlife such as coyotes, raccoons, opossums, ducks or ducklings, bird nests, or bees

• Transport live wildlife

• Trap wildlife (some states require the release of a wild animal whom you intentionally trap)

• General pest control (think: rats, mice, cockroaches)

Do you get charged for calling animal control?

Nope. Calling animal control or filing a complaint will not cost you anything. Their primary job is to respond to issues in the community. Taking calls from residents is a big part of that.

So, if you see an injured dog on the side of the road or a cat stuck in a storm drain, you can and should call without worrying about a fee. That said, once animal control gets involved, certain outcomes could lead to fees (generally to the pet parent of the animal involved). More on that, below.

Does animal control charge for services?

Although reporting an issue to animal control is free, there are some services that animal control may charge for, particularly when it comes to reclaiming lost pets or when there are repeat violations. Here are some common fees.

Impound fees

If you’re not familiar with impounding, it refers to a pet who has been taken into the custody of an animal control or law enforcement agency. Animal control usually impounds a pet because of a violation of animal control laws, due to concerns for the pet’s safety, or due to the safety of others. This can happen when a stray dog or cat is found, if an animal is involved in an attack, or if there’s suspicion of neglect or abuse. 

If animal control picks up your dog or cat and takes them to the local shelter, you’ll likely need to pay an impound fee to get them back. The cost varies widely depending on the area, how many times your pet has been picked up, and the reason for the impound. First-time fees are typically lower, but they can increase with each offense.

Pets can be impounded for a variety of reasons.

• Running at large: Being off-leash in public areas where leashes are required 

• Animal at large: Being found in violation of local laws or ordinances regarding dogs 

• Dangerous or menacing behavior: A dog (or cat, though not as common) deemed a threat to public safety 

• Neglect or abuse: A pet found to be in a situation of cruelty or neglect 

• Bite incidents: A dog or cat who bites a person or another animal, with many communities also requiring a quarantine period for an animal who has bitten someone 

Licensing violations

Many cities require dogs (and sometimes cats) to be licensed. If your pet doesn’t have a valid license, or if the license has expired, you could face a fine. This is especially true if your pet ends up in animal control custody. Note that licenses are usually yearly fees.

Quarantine fees

If your pet bites someone, animal control may require a quarantine period to rule out rabies. This can sometimes be done at home, but in many cases, it needs to be done at a shelter or approved facility. There are often fees associated with a bite quarantine.

Boarding fees

If your pet is impounded, you may also be responsible for daily boarding fees while they are in the shelter’s care. This can add up quickly, especially if there’s a delay in claiming them.

Surrender fees

If you voluntarily surrender your pet to animal control or a municipal shelter, there may be a surrender fee to help cover care costs. (You can avoid a surrender fee by finding them a new pet parent using Rehome.)

Other services with potential costs

• Microchipping or ID tagging, if required upon release

• Vaccinations, especially rabies shots

• Spay/neuter compliance fines

• In some cases, investigating and addressing barking dog complaints, with the fees usually charged in the form of a citation

Does animal control charge to pick up cats or dogs?

If you call animal control to pick up a stray cat or dog, there’s typically no fee for you as the caller. But if that cat or dog ends up belonging to someone, they may face impound and boarding fees to get them back. Each animal control agency has their own policy. Some will only charge a fee if the pet parent does not pick up their pet in a timely manner.

If you are the pet parent and your dog was picked up after getting loose, you’ll likely be responsible for any impound, licensing, or vaccination-related fees.

Some shelters and animal control departments also charge more if a pet is not microchipped, vaccinated, or altered.

What to do instead of calling animal control

Not all animal situations need official intervention. If you don’t feel comfortable calling animal control and you’ve found a lost pet, check out:

• What to do with lost pets

• How to find a home for rescue pets

And if you’re working through your pet’s behavior challenges (such as separation anxiety or excessive barking), these articles might help:

• Separation anxiety in dogs

• How to train your dog not to bark

• How to stop dog jumping

• How to stop dog chewing

Commonly asked questions

Does animal control charge to pick up animals?

In most cases, animal control does not charge to pick up animals. Calling animal control to pick up a stray animal is considered a public service. That said, if the animal has an identifiable pet parent, that person may be on the hook for reclaim fees.

Does animal control charge to remove a raccoon?

This depends on the department and the situation. Some animal control agencies will remove nuisance wildlife for free, especially if the animal poses a threat to public safety. In other cases, they may refer you to a licensed wildlife removal service, which usually comes with a fee. If you’re unsure, call and ask what your local agency offers.

Does animal control charge to remove a coyote?

Many animal control agencies do not handle wildlife removal at all, including coyotes, raccoons, and opossums. They may offer advice or resources, but not direct removal services. The ones that do provide wildlife removal will usually do it at no cost to the caller. 

Will animal control remove dead animals?

Many animal control agencies will remove dead animals from public property (such as roads or parks) for free. If the animal is on private property, they may charge a fee or refer you to a sanitation service.

How long will animal control keep a pet?

Many counties and states have what are called “holding period” laws. These laws provide the minimum required period for which an animal (usually a dog or cat) must be kept at a pound or public animal shelter before they are sold, adopted out, or euthanized. Animal control officers will pick up the lost pet and take them to the county/city shelter. Typically, the shelter then has to board your pet from five to seven days.

Can I call animal control for stray cats?

Yes, especially if the cat appears sick or injured, or if there’s a safety concern. You can also check out what to do with stray cats for more helpful tips.

References

“Investigations and Rescue.” ASPCA, www.aspca.org/investigations-rescue.

“Animal Control Workers.” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 25 Apr. 2023, www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes339011.htm.

“Know Your Rights: How to Talk to Local Authorities.” Alley Cat Allies, www.alleycat.org/resources/know-your-rights-how-to-talk-to-animal-control/.

“County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control Fee Schedule.” Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/135951_BoardLetterFeesScheduleAttachmentIREVSIED.03.18.20.pdf

‌“Investigations and Rescue.” ASPCA, www.aspca.org/investigations-rescue.

‌Wisch, Rebecca, and Ashley Dillingham. “State Holding Period Laws for Impounded Animals | Animal Legal & Historical Center.” Animallaw.info, 2017, www.animallaw.info/topic/state-holding-period-laws-impounded-animals.

Fairbanks City, Fairbanks North Star Borough, fnsb.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3878/Animal-Control-Fees?bidId=.