Enforcement FAQs
To have an Animal Control Officer respond to a call for service, call dispatch at (757) 385-5000 , option #1. A Communications Officer will dispatch an Animal Control Officer to investigate your complaint. If the officer sees a violation when they arrive, 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 individual 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 named individual must then appear in court and present testimony before a judge.
The goal is to always reunite lost animals with their owners. In many cases, animals are found close to their home and their owners are actively looking for them.
All stray cats and dogs are required to be reported to the Animal Services Bureau. Once reported, animals can be scanned by an Animal Control officer for a microchip and reunited with their owner.
To report a stray dog or cat, call (757) 385-5000 .
An Animal Control officer will respond to assist injured companion animals with no owner and injured or sick wildlife.
To request assistance, call (757) 385-5000 .
Yes, as long as you use a humane trap that does not injure the animal.
Should you have a sick or injured wildlife or companion animal concern, please contact the Police Dispatch non-emergency number and they will dispatch an Animal Control Officer to the location. The number is (757) 385-5000 .
Should you have a concern involving healthy but nuisance wildlife, the following options exist to assist you:
Seek out a private trapping company. Licensed private vendors can be found on the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website.
For additional information on ways to deter health wildlife on private property, visit the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website.
Should you have a concern with a stray friendly cat or feral cat, the following options exist to assist you:
- Seek out a private trapping company. A quick internet search will provide you options; not all trapping companies will assist with cats.
- Seek out cat trapping assistance from local animal welfare, non-profit organizations; several in the area offer cat assistance.
- Purchase a humane animal trap of your own from a local or online vendor. If you trap a cat, friendly or feral, you can bring the cat into the Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center, or you may contact the Police Dispatch non-emergency number and they will dispatch an Animal Control Officer to pick the trapped cat up from your home.
- If none of the above options are viable, please contact the Animal Care and Adoption Center at (757) 385-4444 (option 2), during normal business hours. Clerks will ask you a series of questions in order to try assisting you further. On a case-by-case situational basis, Animal Control Officers may be assigned a case to bring a humane animal trap to the problem location.
- This decision will be made after an assessment is completed. It should be noted that trap resources for this type of concern, while available, are limited.
As a matter of safety, animal control officers cannot go into attics, go under houses, climb ladders or disassemble any structures to 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.
Stray, nuisance wildlife around the home, unless injured, cannot be removed by the officer unless trapped.
Animal Control officers respond to animal cruelty investigations, stray companion animals, injured or sick animals, the removal of an owners’ deceased pet, and exposure or bites by animals to people or other animals.
To request an Animal Control officer, dial (757) 385-5000 and Emergency Communications and Citizen Services will dispatch an Animal Control officer to investigate.
Because animal ordinances may be either a misdemeanor or felony (depending on the nature), our officers may not immediately take legal action unless they witness a violation in progress. This does not mean no action can be taken about a violation you have witnessed.
Any individual who witnesses a violation (pet at-large, defecation on private property, violation of leash law, barking, etc.) can take action by going to a magistrate's office, presenting probable cause, and obtaining a magistrate's summons for the violation.
The named individual must then appear in court and present testimony before a judge.
Call (757) 385-5000 to request an Animal Control officer. The officer will respond and take an exposure report for the Department of Public Health.
In some cases, quarantine is required. This is at the officer’s discretion.
Deceased animals may be buried if you have an acceptable place available and permission of the property owner. If this is not possible, the City provides a disposal service to residents. The fee for this service is $20.
To have an animal picked-up by an Animal Control officer, call (757) 385-5000 . If you would prefer to take your pet to the Animal Care and Adoption Center, you may do so during operational hours.
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.
Animal Control officers cannot go into attics, under houses, climb ladders or disassemble any structures to remove animals. If you have a loose animal inside your home that can be seen, an Animal Control officer will respond as a matter of public safety.
Stray or nuisance wildlife around the home, unless injured, cannot be removed by an Animal Control officer unless trapped.
Every dog and cat four months of age in the city is required to have a current rabies vaccine and a current city license.
Rabies vaccines are required to be given by a licensed Veterinarian. Information about obtaining a City license can be found on the City Treasurer's website .
Call the Animal Care and Adoption Center at (757) 385-4444 during normal business hours to ask if your animal has been picked up or reported found. You should also utilize social media platforms to post your missing pet, or to see if someone else has found your pet. Visit these popular social media pages to learn more: