How can I view the available animals at animal control on-line?

See a select few on the Pet Pics webpage.  These animals are updated weekly.

See many animals on the Petfinder pages.

How do I file a complaint?
To have an Animal Control Officer respond to a call for service, call Communications at 385-4444. 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.

May I trap stray cats or wild animals that come into my yard?
Yes, as long as you use a humane trap that does not injure the animal. The City provides traps to citizens for catching stray cats and wild "nuisance" animals such as raccoons, opossums, squirrels, etc. To obtain a trap, you must come to the Bureau of Animal Control and pick up the trap. There is no charge for using the trap, however, due to the cost of replacing lost traps, a $50.00 check only or money order is required as a security deposit. Please call in advance to make sure a trap is available at 385-4444. You will be given instructions for setting the trap, and we will pick up and remove of any animals that are caught in the trap. Your deposit is mailed back to you as soon as the trap is returned to animal control. If an animal is caught in a trap, immediately call for a pick up at 385-4444, place the trap out of direct sunlight (for those hot summer days) or cover the trap with a blanket (for those cold winter days), an animal control officer will pick up the trap and replace it with an empty trap.

As a matter of safety, animal control officers cannot; go into attics, go under houses, climb ladders or disassemble any structures to get to or remove animals. If you have a loose animal inside your home, that can be seen, an animal control officer will respond to your home as a matter of public safety. Loose, nuisance wildlife around the home unless injured cannot be removed by the officer unless trapped.

Some citizens purchase their own traps from local sources. We also service these traps at no cost to you, by picking up and removing any animals caught in these traps. Private traps will be picked up by animal control and returned to the owner as soon as possible, which may include the following day.

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.

What's the difference between Animal Control and SPCA?
The Bureau of Animal Control is a public safety city agency and is a bureau of the Police Department. As such, we are governed by all city policies and procedures and totally funded by the city. Animal Control officers patrol the city streets and enforce animal related ordinances.

The SPCA is a privately owned organization and is independent from city control. The SPCA operates with private donations and private grants.

Who do I call if I am missing my animal?
Come to the animal control kennel or call the animal control office at 385-4444. In most cases verbal descriptions including breed type are not reliable. Citizens looking for lost pets are strongly advised to visit the shelter and look. Especially if it has been more than 24 hours. We will try to determine if an animal fitting the description of your animal was picked up and impounded.

The best way to ensure the safe return of your lost animal is to have a city pet license on the animal. In most cases, animals wearing tags can be returned to the owner rather than being impounded. If no one is home, the officer will leave a note on the door advising the animal was picked up. If the officer is unable to access the pet tag information immediately, and cannot leave a note, the owner will be notified by telephone as soon as the officer obtains the information. If the animal is wearing tags, the owner must be notified within forty-eight (48) hours.

Please remember animals will sometimes lose their tags or have them removed by someone. Even if your animal leaves home wearing a collar and tags, there is always a chance the collar may not be on when the animal is picked up. Consider microchipping your animal.

Impounded animals are held for ten (10) days if they are wearing a collar when picked up, and for five (5) days if they are not wearing a collar when picked up.

You should also contact the Virginia Beach SPCA at 427-0070. Even though the SPCA does not pick up animals, they will frequently take in a stray animals that has been found by a citizen and brought to their facility. They are located at 3040 Holland Road, near the intersection of Holland Road and Dam Neck Road.