Animal Control
The Animal Control Officer provides service to the contract communities of Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Township.
Animal Control primarily responds to concerns about domestic animals:
- Responding to animal ordinance violations.
- Impounding stray and dangerous dogs.
- Following up on all animal bite reports.
- Helping to resolve issues through negotiation or issuing a citation if necessary.
If animal control services are not available, a deputy will respond to the call.
The Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer takes a community-based approach with an emphasis on education and finding solutions that help make dogs and cats good neighbors. An enforcement approach is taken when public safety is at stake, such as a dog bite or dangerous animal is reported.
Animal control services are focused on domestic animal issues. Animal Control does not remove wild animals, including bats, simply because they are on your property. Most cities in Ramsey County recommend the use of licensed professional pest control companies for removal of problem wildlife. Deputies and police officers do respond to public safety incidents involving injured or dangerous wildlife.
Report an animal control problem
You can report an animal control problem by calling the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office Public Safety Services Division, non-emergency dispatch at 651-767-0640 .
When reporting an animal control problem or concern, the following information is helpful:
- Your name and phone number.
- Location of the complaint.
- Description of the complaint.
- Description of the animal.
- Possible animal owner information.
Pet licensing
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office does not issue licenses for pets. Pet licenses are provided by city government.
For more information, please visit your city’s website:
Frequently asked questions
What should I do about a neighbor’s dog that barks continuously when they are not home?
Animal Control will respond to reports of barking dogs. City ordinances will be enforced. Call 9-1-1 to report the event while it is happening. When the Deputy or Animal Control Officer arrives, the officer will park in the area of the complaint and monitor for barking. If the dog barks continuously, the Animal Control Officer will try to make contact with the owner. If no one is home, a business card will be left at the residence requesting the home owner contact animal control. The Animal Control Officer will work with the owner to ensure the barking dog does not become a neighborhood problem. If the contact with Animal Control does not resolve the issue, the owner will be cited.
What should I do about a dog running loose in my neighborhood?
City ordinances require all domestic animals (dogs, cats, etc.) to be leashed when not on their owner’s property. Many city ordinances penalize a person who owns, harbors, or keeps a domestic animal that runs at large. If you see a dog running loose, please contact Animal Control by calling 9-1-1. If the animal is picked up it and attempts to reunited it with its owner are unsuccessful it will be transported to a temporary shelter operated by the Animal Humane Society in Woodbury
What should I do if my dog/cat is missing or possibly picked up by Animal Control?
Lost pets should be reported to ECC Dispatch 651-767-0640 and can be posted on the Ramsey County Sheriff Office Facebook page. Also search for and post your missing pet on AHS-Found Pet Bulletin Board, Nextdoor.com, Lost Dogs Minnesota, and Lost Cats Minnesota.
Domestic animals received by Animal Control (in the contract cities) are brought to the Animal Humane Society (AHS), located at 9785 Hudson Road, Woodbury MN 55125. The phone number is 952-435-7738 or 952-HELP-PET. Phone hours are 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Monday-Friday, and 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday. Shelter pick-up hours are by appointment only. Should the animal have a registered microchip, rabies, or license tag, AHS will attempt to contact the pet's owner for pick up. Owners claiming their pets will need to show photo identification, proof of ownership, and bring payment for fees.
Otherwise AHS will post the pet's photo on the AHS-Found Pet Bulletin Board and hold the animal for 5 business days, after which the animal becomes the property of AHS.
What should I do if my family member or pet was bit by a dog?
Seek medical attention first, if needed. Then contact the Animal Control Officer by calling 9-1-1. A Deputy or an Animal Control Officer will respond to take a report. As part of the report, dog owner address and rabies certificate are collected. The situation may require the biting animal to be quarantined for ten days. Animal Control will check the dog during the quarantine to ensure it is healthy and then follow-up with the bite victim. Depending on the circumstances and severity of the bite, the dog may be declared potentially dangerous or dangerous after one incident. This is another reason why it is best to report dog bites to law enforcement.
Will Animal Control pick up a stray cat in my neighborhood?
Animal Control will pick up domestic cats in certain circumstances. For example, cats that are sick, injured, abandoned, or at imminent risk of becoming sick, injured or abandoned1, such as orphaned kittens, cats stuck in window wells, etc. Animal Control will attempt to reunite stray domestic cats with their owner before transferring them to the temporary shelter. Owners wishing to surrender cats, or residents concerned about outdoor cats that are apparently healthy will be directed toward nongovernmental resources such as the Animal Humane Society.
1Animals left in your possession by former acquaintances, relatives, or tenants, are considered as owner surrendered and do not qualify as abandoned.
What about feral cats in my neighborhood?
Feral cats are the offspring of lost or abandoned pet cats or other feral cats who are not spayed or neutered. Unlike stray cats that are accustomed to contact with people and are tame, feral cats are not accustomed to people and are typically too fearful and wild to be handled. Feral cats do not easily adapt, or may never adapt, to living as pets in close contact with people. The Sheriff’s Office Animal Control services do not include trapping feral cats.
An emerging remedy for feral cats is Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR), also referred as Community Cat Program. Contact the Animal Humane Society for additional information on its free Community Cat Program.
Not keen on having feral cats on your property? These organizations: Best Friends or Alley Cat Allies offer tips on humane deterrents for un-socialized felines.
Will Animal Control pick up an injured wild animal in my yard?
Please contact Animal Control by calling 9-1-1. A deputy or Animal Control Officer will respond to address the problem. Injured small wildlife determined to have a chance of survival are brought to the Minnesota Wildlife Rehab Center in Roseville. Severely injured deer and wildlife will be humanely euthanized. Animal Control does not pick up deceased wildlife in your yard.
Can Animal Control help me with a raccoon that keeps getting in my garbage or bird feeder?
Animal Control does not respond to wild animal calls unless there is a public safety threat. Animal Control does not remove wildlife simply because it is on your property. The use of licensed professional pest control companies are recommended by most cities in Ramsey County for the removal of problem wildlife. If you live trap an animal do not take it to some other part of town and release it, as this could potentially spread disease.
Will Animal Control pick up the injured bird in my yard?
Yes, but anyone over the age of 18 can transport an injured wild bird to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota at 2530 Dale St. N, Roseville, MN. Injured birds of prey, such as owls, hawks, and eagles. Please contact the University of Minnesota Raptor Center at 612-624-4745 between 8am-5pm. Neither organization will come out to pick up patients. Animal Control does not pick up dead birds for West Nile virus testing.
Where does Animal Control take animals that are picked up?
Domestic animals are brought to a temporary shelter operated by the Animal Humane Society. Injured small wildlife with a good chance of survival are brought to the Minnesota Wildlife Rehab Center in Roseville. Injured birds of prey are brought to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center. Severely injured deer and wildlife will be humanely euthanized.
What is the best advice of Animal Control for stray dogs?
Have a registered microchip in your dog so you can be found when the dog is lost. The Sheriff’s Animal Control Officer would rather bring your dog home than to the impound shelter.
Why do some dogs become strays?
Dog at large is the number one complaint received by Animal Control. Some dogs like to explore more than others. Adventuresome dogs see an open gate as an invitation to see new territory; unfortunately they don’t always understand the risks and dangers they may face while out on their own without supervision. Help your dog by working with your children to keep gates and doors closed.
Why do I call 911 to report a barking dog?
Barking dogs. The object of animal control laws is to not let animals disrupt our neighborhoods. Pay attention to your dog’s barking and work toward not letting them go beyond five minutes continuously or intermittently over a longer time period (i.e. like the chirp when batteries are going out on a smoke detector).
Animal Control does not pick up deceased wildlife in your yard.
Contact Us
Animal Control
651-767-0640