Enforcement

Animal Control officers are on routine patrol from 8 a.m.-10 p.m., seven days a week. There is an officer on stand-by duty after hours to respond to emergency calls for service only.

The mission of the Virginia Beach Animal Enforcement Unit is to balance the health, safety and welfare needs of the people and animals in our City.

Through our mission, the Animal Enforcement Unit will educate the public about responsible companion animal ownership, aggressively investigate animal cruelty cases, provide compassion and humane care for unwanted, stray, abused, and abandoned animals in our city, give adoptable animals a second chance at a forever home, and humanely euthanize animals when necessary and appropriate.

To have an Animal Control Officer respond to a call for service, call dispatch at (757) 385-5000 . Animal Control Officers are on routine patrol from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., seven days a week. There is an officer on stand-by duty after hours to respond to emergency calls for service only.

When calls are received, a Communications Officer dispatches an Animal Control Officer to investigate complaints. If the officer sees a violation when they arrive, appropriate action will be taken. For all other non-emergency inquiries, please send an email to vbpdac@vbgov.com . *NOTE: This email box is not monitored 24/7.

Animal Bites and Exposures

The best way to prevent rabies is to make sure your animals are vaccinated. If you or someone you know is attacked by an animal, wounds should be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water. Injured parties should then report to the hospital to check for rabies and other diseases.

Report any bite/exposure to Animal Control at 757-385-5000 .

For more information, please visit the Virginia Department of Health website.

Dog playing with a toy

Virginia Beach Quarantine Guidelines

  1. The animal is not to be removed from the City of Virginia Beach.
  2. The animal is not to be removed or released from the place of quarantine without the prior consent of the Virginia Beach Health Department.
  3. The animal must be kept away from all other animals.
  4. The animal must be tied when outside, and only if there is a fence around the property. The animal must be tied securely when it cannot reach any section of the fence.
  5. The animal can be taken out on a leash by a responsible person on the owner’s property.
  6. When the Animal Control officer feels that suitable quarantine cannot be maintained by the owner, the animal must be removed to a suitable pound or veterinary hospital in the City of Virginia Beach, where proper quarantine can be maintained. The cost will be at the expense of the animal’s owner(s).
  7. If the 10th or 45th day of quarantine falls on a weekend or holiday, the animal will be released on the next business day.

Wil​d, Nuisance, or Problem Animals

Encounters with wild animals are common, due to the city's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, large rural areas, and the Great Dismal Swamp and Back Bay wildlife refuges. Fox, otter, snakes, seals, bats, deer, opossum, raccoons, and other wildlife, including a rare black bear, have been spotted within city limits. If you encounter a wild animal, it's best to simply leave it alone.

Visit the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website for more information on licensed trappers and wildlife control specialists.

DWR website
Coyote in the Field