Q. Where can I find telephone numbers to state and local resources?
A. Telephone numbers for state and local agencies:
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Q. What are Animal Control's hours of operation?
A. The Animal Control Division has officers available to respond to emergencies around the clock seven days a week.
| Regular Services | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Adoption Visiting Hours | Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Animal Shelter Lost Pet Search | Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| After business hours, call Animal Control for instruction or call 911 for emergencies involving animals. |
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Q. How can I file a complaint about a neighbor's animal?
A. In situations involving nuisance animals that bark excessively, run at large or leave unwelcome deposits, consider talking with the pet owner about the problems before filing a complaint. Animal nuisance complaints are taken by phone, but not anonymously. For most complaints, you must provide your name, address and telephone number and the address of the pet owner. Your identity is not shared with the pet owner at this point unless he or she formally requests that information. Most reports involving animal cruelty and neglect will be taken anonymously, as are reports of stray animals running at large when the owner is not known.
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Q. Who do I call to have a dead animal removed?
A. Call Animal Control for dead animals on County maintained roads. Maryland Highway Administration picks up dead animals on State numbered routes. Animal Control also picks up deceased pets, free of charge. This service does not include dead livestock or farm animals.
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Q. My pet is lost. What should I do?
A. Call and then visit the Animal Shelter Monday–Saturday, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you bring a photo with you, your pet's photo will be posted on the lost pet board. Bring your Maryland picture identification or license, your pet's Rabies vaccination information, if available, and any proof of ownership. Be prepared to pay impoundment, board charges, and purchase the required license. The Animal Shelter accepts cash and checks only. Call ahead for further instructions, and be sure to take a look at the "lost pet" brochure (PDF).
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Q. Am I required to turn in a stray pet?
A. Baltimore County Law requires that finders of stray pets turn the pet over to Animal Control within 24 hours. Any pet not claimed by its owner or adopted during the Animal Shelter's four-day hold period may be reclaimed by the person who found it for the cost of a Rabies vaccination and County animal license. For more information, contact the Department of Health's Animal Control Division at 410-887-5961 or e-mail animalcontrol@baltimorecountymd.gov.
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Q. What is the pet adoption fee?
A. The adoption fee for all pets is $60. This includes the pet, an exam by a licensed veterinarian, a first full series of shots, worming and microchip with registration. Pets will also receive a Rabies vaccination, annual license and a discount certificate toward spaying or neutering. All pets must be spayed or neutered. There can be monetary violations issued for non-compliance.
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Q. How can I get my pet's Rabies vaccination, microchip or license?
A. Take advantage of the Animal Shelter's weekly clinics, for dogs, cats and ferrets which are held each Thursday by appointment. During May and June, the Department's Communicable Disease Division holds low cost Rabies clinics at area schools. Rabies vaccinations and licenses are required for all cats and dogs over three months of age. You must provide proof of a current Rabies vaccination in order to purchase a license. Licenses (PDF) are also available at the County Office Building and at all public libraries. When you purchase a license, you will be mailed a renewal form when it is time to purchase a new one.
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Q. Who do I call about nuisance wildlife?
A. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources sponsors a toll-free Wildlife Damage Hotline in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture. Hotline staff will help you make your household environment less appealing to wildlife intruders. DNR also licenses wildlife removal specialists, rescue rehabilitators and all trapping activities in the state. A DNR permit is required by law to trap nuisance wildlife. For further information contact 1-887-463-6497 or visit www.dnr.state.md.us.
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Q. Where do I get information on rodent control (rats)?
A. Learn more about rodent control and report rat problems by visiting the Rid Rats web section or calling 410-887-RATS.
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Q. What should I do if I am bitten by a dog, cat or ferret?
A. Flush and clean the wound(s) immediately with warm, soapy water and then apply an antiseptic. Contact your Health Care Provider for further instructions, including the need for tetanus immunization and/or antibiotics to control bacterial infection. If the biting animal is obviously sick, behaving abnormally, or if the injury is serious, go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation.
The risk of rabies from bites inflicted by apparently healthy dogs, cats, ferrets can be dismissed if the animal is confined (usually by the owner) and observed as healthy for the prescribed 10 days following the bite. No person in the United States has ever contracted rabies from a dog, cat or ferret which has held in quarantine for 10 days.
Unless the animal is healthy and the owner is well known to you, report bites to the Police Department by calling 911 or 410-887-2222. Reporting the bite to the Police begins a process that helps insure that the bite case is properly managed.
In most cases, bites inflicted by an animal owned by a close friend or relative can be handled informally by the parties themselves by just observing the animal for the 10 days after the bite as described above. In these situations, calling the Police is at the discretion of the parties involved, but if the Police are not called, be sure to contact the Department of Health at 410-887-2724 the next business day to verify the control plan.
If the animal is a stray and can be safely confined, also contact Animal Control at 410-887-5961 to arrange for pickup. If you have questions about your bite case or how the animal should be managed with regards to the rabies risk, call the Baltimore County Department of Health at 410-887-2724 on the next business day. If you have concerns about an ongoing bite threat an animal poses, notify Animal Control at the number given above.
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Revised December 1, 2008
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