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Animal Control
- ANIMAL CONTROL DEPT
- LOST & FOUND PETS
- PET REGISTRATION & LEASH LAW
- ANIMAL TRAP RENTAL
- IMPOUNDMENT FEE SCHEDULE
Animal Control Hours
The Animal Control Officer works in the field and does not have an office location. The officer can be reached by phone during business hours at (210) 293-9676, or by E-mail.
- Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
What Does Animal Control Do?
The City of Castle Hills employs one Animal Control Officer who has several responsibilities, including animal impoundment and adoption services, responding to calls about pets running loose (“animal at large”), responding to calls about injured or deceased wildlife, investigating and responding to calls about animal cruelty, responding to calls about dangerous animals, providing humane live animal trap assistance, and overseeing the daily operations of the on-site Animal Care Facility.
Pet Owner Responsibilities
- Register your pet with a one time process for the life of your pet with Castle Hills.
- Always make sure your pet is current with rabies vaccine each year.
- Have your pet restrained at all times at home with a fence or runner and while walking with a dog leash on city streets.
- Have your pet micro-chipped or tags on collar to contact you if your pet is picked up by Animal Control.
Pet Owner Penalties
- Pet running at large involves impoundment with fees.
- Dog bites involve 10-day quarantine at owner's expense
- Repeated offenders are summoned to court.
Animal Impoundment
When a pet is brought in by Animal Control for impoundment, the Animal Control Officer will check the pet thoroughly for an identification tag, a rabies tag, and/or a microchip. If any of these forms of identification are found, the officer will then contact either the owner or the veterinarian to make a positive identification on the pet. Once the pet is identified, the animal control officer will make arrangements for the owner to come in, provide the required paperwork, pay the impoundment fees, and reclaim the pet.If an impounded animal does not have tags or a microchip, the pet will be placed on a required (by city ordinance) minimum 72 hour hold, during which time an ongoing effort will be made to locate the owner. If the owner cannot be located after 72 hours, the pet becomes the property of the city. Once the pet has passed the required hold period, the animal control officer will begin making contact with breed rescue agencies or individuals to make adoption preparations. Once adoption preparations are complete, the pet will be adopted out to a new home.
Owner Surrender
The Animal Control department cannot accept owner surrendered pets.Endangered Wildlife
If you encounter injured wildlife, such as a raccoon that has been hit by a car, or a deer with it's antlers entangled in a chain link fence, immediately contact dispatch for assistance at (210) 342-2341.
Wildlife Capture and Removal
The City of Castle Hills does not provide Animal Control services for wildlife issues on residential or commercial properties. If you are having a problem with wildlife nuisance animals, such as raccoon, possum, or feral cats, you can remove them humanely using Havahart® live animal traps. If you do not own a trap, the city offers trap rental for a nominal fee. Click the "Animal Traps" tab for full details on trap rental. If you have wildlife or insect issues inside of your home (such as a raccoon in the attic, or a bee nest in the eaves) contact a pest control company for assistance.Animal Care Facility (Kennel)
When pets are impounded by Animal Control, they are housed in the animal care facility. The animal care facility is a small kennel that can hold up to 4 domestic animals. The kennel runs are cleaned and the pets are fed and walked 2 times per day. The pets may be bathed, and when necessary, medication may be administered upon the advice of a veterinarian. The animal care facility has air conditioning and heating to keep the pets comfortable during their stay. (Due to safety precautions the facility is not open to the public.)
Is Your Pet Missing?
If your pet is missing, Animal Control may have picked up the pet for impoundment. Check the Found Pets page to see if your pet is staying at the Kennel. If you do not see your pet, call Animal Control at (210) 293-9676 and leave a detailed message about your missing pet. You may also fill out the online Lost & Found Pet Form. Be specific when leaving details about your missing pet. Animal Control will need to know what type of pet, the hair color, the size, does pet have a collar and tags, or a microchip, any distinguishing marks, where was pet last seen, your name, address, and phone number, and any other important details. Animal Control will call you back as soon as possible during business hours to let you know if your pet has been impounded. If your pet is missing, do not go to the animal shelter, as it is not open to the public, and the animal control officer is the only person authorized to provide information about your missing pet. The Animal Control Officer works in the field and does not have an office location. The officer can be reached by phone during business hours at (210) 342-2341 x206.
- Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
If animal control has picked up a pet and there is no identification to assist in locating the owner, they will take a picture of the animal and post it on the bulletin board outside of the animal control facility. If you see your pet on the bulletin board, please call Animal Control and make an appointment to pick up the pet. The animal control facility is not open to the public, and pets cannot be returned to their owners without making an appointment with the animal control officer. Owners must provide identification and current rabies vaccination to reclaim their pet.
Did You Find A Pet?
Have you found someone else's pet? During business hours, call Animal Control at (210) 342-2341 x206. If space is available the Animal Control officer will make same-day arrangements to pick up the pet and process it into the animal shelter. If there is no space available, the animal control officer will direct you to other agencies that may be able to assist you with pet intake. See the Animal Control page for business hour listings.You may also fill out the online Lost & Found Pet Form.If you find someone else's pet after business hours, if possible, please care for the pet until you are able to make contact with Animal Control. Call (210) 342-2341 x206 and leave a message with your name, phone number, and a detailed description of the pet, including where you found it. The Animal Control officer will call you back during business hours to make arrangements for the pet to be processed into the animal shelter, if space is available.
Please note that the Animal Control officer works in the field and is not at an office location. Do not attempt to drop off the pet at City buildings as City staff cannot process the animal into the shelter. Do not ever abandon pets at city buildings, as this is punishable by fine and/or jail time.
Owner Surrender
The Animal Control department cannot accept owner surrendered pets. If you have a pet that you are unable to care for, please contact one of the following agencies for further assistance:Per City ordinance, all domestic pets in Castle Hills more than 4 months old must be registered with the city. Pet registration is important and helps animal control identify your pet in the event that the pet is impounded. The registration fee for each domestic animal is $10.00. It is important to be sure that your pets are current on their Rabies vaccination. Owners must present a certificate of Rabies vaccination by a licensed veterinarian in order to register the pets. To register your pet, go to the City Hall building located at 209 Lemonwood Drive in Castle Hills, fill out the Pet Registration Form, and pay the $10.00 fee.
Leash Law / Dog At Large Ordinance
All domestic pets must be restrained in a fenced area, and are not allowed to roam at large, at will. If pets are roaming at large and causing a nuisance to other residents, call and report this code violation to the City of Castle Hills. Call (210) 293-9676 and give detailed information to the dispatcher answering the phone. Dispatch will page Animal Control (during business hours only) and the Animal Control Officer will attempt to make contact with the pet. If Animal Control is able to make contact with the pet, the pet will be brought in to the kennel for impoundment. Be aware that the animal control officer has many other responsibilities and is not able to chase the animals. If contact cannot be made, the animal may continue to roam free. Per ordinance, cats are exempt from the leash requirements while on the owner's property, but any cat straying onto the property of anyone other than its owner shall be deemed a nuisance animal and will be subject to impoundment. See the Impoundment Fee Schedule tab for more information on impoundment fees.Havahart® Humane Animal Trap Rental
If you are having a problem with wildlife nuisance animals, you can remove them in a safe and humane way with Havahart® live animal traps:
- Feral cats
- Possums
- Raccoons
- Skunks
NO ANIMAL DROP OFF
IMPORTANT: DO NOT DROP OFF THE ANIMALS OR TRAPS at the Public Works building. There are NO DROP OFF facilities for the traps or the live animals. You MUST CALL the Animal Control Officer at (210) 293-9676 to MAKE ARRANGEMENTS to pick up the trap and animal from your property. Trap Rental Hours
If you would like to rent a trap, contact the Animal Control Officer (ACO) at (210) 293-9676 to make arrangements to have a trap delivered to your residence during business hours. (There is no charge for trap delivery. The ACO may assist you with setting the trap, if required.) Be aware that the ACO works in the field and does not have an office location.Be sure to call first as there is a limited supply of traps, and only the ACO can rent the traps to you. Do not go to the Public Works building to rent a trap without having made prior arrangements. The ACO can be reached by phone during business hours at (210) 293-9676
- Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am to noon; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
IMPOUNDMENT FEE SCHEDULE
VIOLATION | FEE LIST |
---|---|
ANIMAL AT LARGE | $ 30.00 |
PET NOT REGISTERED - 1st Offense | $ 10.00 |
PET NOT REGISTERED - 2nd Offense | $ 30.00 |
PET NOT REGISTERED - 3rd Offense | $100.00 |
IMPOUNDMENT FEE | $ 40.00 |
BOARDING FEE (for each day impounded) | $ 9 per day |
NO CURRENT RABIES VACCINATION | $ 30.00 |
FAIL TO SURRENDER FOR RABIES OBSERVATION | $200.00 |
ANIMAL ABANDONMENT | $ 50.00 |
HARBORING MORE THAN 4 DOGS/CATS | $ 25.00 |
REGISTRATION FEE - Non-Neutered/Spayed | $ 10.00 |
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Animal Control Department
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Lost & Found Pets
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Pet Registration
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Leash Law / Dog At Large
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Humane Animal Trap