Where is the enforcement office located? What are the hours of operation?
341 S. Birdneck Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Animal Control Officers are on routine patrol from 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., seven days a week. There is also an officer on stand-by duty after 11 p.m. to respond emergency calls for service only.
How do I request that an Animal Control Officer respond out to a call for service?
To have an Animal Control Officer respond to a call for service, call dispatch at (757) 385-4444 Option #1. A Communications Officer will dispatch an Animal Control Officer to investigate your complaint. If the officer sees a violation when he/she arrives, appropriate action will be taken.
Because animal ordinances may be either a misdemeanor or felony (depending on the nature), our officers may not immediately take legal action unless they actually witness a violation in progress. This does not mean no action can be taken about a violation you have witnessed. Any citizen who witnesses a violation can take action by going to a magistrate's office, presenting probable cause, and obtain a Magistrate's Summons for the violation. The citizen must then appear in court and present testimony before a judge.
My pet has passed away, how do I dispose of the body?
Deceased animals may be buried if you have an acceptable place available. If this is not possible, the City provides a disposal service to citizens. The fee for this service is $20. To have an animal picked-up call dispatch at (757) 385-4444 Option #1.
Can an Animal Control Officer enter my yard to remove an animal?
Yes, an Animal Control Officer is authorized to enter private property to investigate complaints. This means if an officer is pursuing a stray animal and the animal runs into the owner's yard, the officer may enter the property and remove the animal if the owner or custodian is not there to properly confine the animal.