Do you plan to call animal control about a neighbor? Before you dial the animal control number, we recommend reading the details explained in this article. There are only specific instances when animal control can intervene in the situation of a neighbor’s unruly pets.
When you call animal control services on a neighbor, they will be contacted by a staff member regarding the animal. The first contact is typically via phone call and is often a warning, but it can escalate into a fine if the problem persists.
While your neighbor’s pets may be annoying, animal control can only act in cases where local regulations are broken. Keep reading further to learn what happens when you call animal control on a neighbor.
When to Call Animal Control on a Neighbor
The first step in calling animal control is determining whether you are within your rights. Animal control investigates animal abuse cases, so a false complaint will waste resources and time for all parties.
If you want to call animal control, you will likely need verifiable proof of the situation. When you have a recurring issue with your neighbor’s pets or witness neglect, you can pursue the situation further with local authorities.
When calling animal control, it should be to report one or multiple of the following issues:
- Dead or Injured Animals: If you spot a dead or injured animal on your property, you can contact animal control for assistance removing it.
- Wandering Animals on Your Property: When your neighbor’s dog frequently wanders into your yard, you can help to
- Dog Chasing Livestock: If you own livestock, a dog wandering onto your farm can lead to injury and damage to your property that animal control can resolve.
- Abuse and Neglect: When your neighbor isn’t treating their animals properly, you can start a case with animal control.
- Aggressive Dog: An aggressive dog threatening your safety can be handled by an animal control officer.
What is Considered Animal Abuse or Neglect?
In the United States, every state has local laws and regulations regarding animal neglect. The laws help to protect animals from malnourishment, abandonment, and other issues regarding the owner.
However, animal neglect is harder to spot than animal abuse. It takes some attention to spot the signs of an owner not treating their pet correctly. If you are unsure if your neighbor is neglectful of their pets, the following signs include:
- Failure Providing Food, Water, and Shelter
- Not Providing Medical Care for Injured Pet
- Hoarding or Puppy Mill
- Malnourished Pet
- Chaining Dog in Yard Without Reasonable Help
Along with neglect, animal abuse is more apparent and involves the owner physically injuring the pet. According to the Humane Society, the most commonly reported animals that are abused are dogs, cats, horses, and livestock.
Will a Neighbor Be Arrested if Animal Control is Called?
When you contact animal control, they will contact the pet owner about the reported complaint. If the reported case is documented as serious animal neglect or abuse, a team of officers will come by to perform a wellness check.
The wellness check will help officers identify the health and safety of the animals on the person’s property. If there are indications of animal cruelty, the animal control staff member will speak to the owner and give guidelines on proper care.
Local law enforcement will be called to handle serious animal abuse crimes in some serious situations. As an example, a Utah police department offered over $42,000 for information on someone who tortured a cat.
When the situation involves the death or injury of an animal that was intentional, police departments will have involvement. Hopefully, animal abuse is not at that level and can be resolved through consulting with animal control officers.
What Happens When You Call Animal Control on a Dog?
When you call animal control on a dog, the process will differ depending on the local agency, but they generally follow similar processes. Below will be a general overview of what happens when you all animal control on a neighbor and their dog:
- Initial Assessment: If you contact local animal control, they will start by discussing the dog’s behavior, location, and history with you.
- Investigation: When a situation requires additional investigation, an officer will visit the area to locate the dog and talk with neighbors.
- Enforcement: If a dog is violating local laws or posing a threat, the officer will enforce change through warnings, fines, or impounding the dog.
- Resolution: The officer may speak to the dog’s owner about proper care and behavioral training when the situation warrants it.
- Follow-Up: After investigating, the officer may follow up with the owner to see if the issue was resolved properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether animal control services are available 24 hours a day for emergencies depends on the specific jurisdiction and its resources. Some areas offer round-the-clock emergency response for situations involving dangerous or injured animals. In contrast, others may have limited hours or rely on alternative emergency services outside of regular operating hours.
Conduct an internet search using keywords like “animal control [your city or county name].” This can often lead you to the relevant animal control agency’s official website or contact information. Additionally, you can visit your local government’s website and look for animal-related services for your area.
Clearly express to the animal control operator that you wish to remain anonymous. They should respect your request and handle the situation accordingly. Additionally, you can use a restricted caller ID and provide minimal personal information to the operator. The animal control officer usually won’t discuss who complained when completing investigations.
Conclusion
When you call animal control on a neighbor, you must do it for the right reasons. Animal control agencies often have limited resources and receive numerous calls unrelated to their profession. The neighbor’s animals must be posing a threat to your safety or damage your property.
Do you have any experience in calling animal control on your neighbor? Let us know if they resolved the conflict and any other details in the comments!