Animal Control officers patrol our streets from 8 am until midnight, 7 days a week.  Officers are also on call overnight in case emergencies come up.  While our officers are constantly looking out for the welfare of animals, their number one priority is public safety.  So reports of dangerous animals, dog bites, or animals in immediate distress take precedence over barking dogs, and nuisance wildlife.  Still, every call is important.  We rely on community members to alert us when they see stray, mistreated, or unhealthy animals.

Have a non-emergency animal control issue? Fill out this online form.

Dog Bites, cat bites or any incidents involving a warm blooded mammal, either domesticated or wild, breaking the skin of a person need to be reported to animal control immediately.  While rabies transmission is rare among domesticated animals it is still found today and it is fatal to humans.  Steps to take if bitten:

• Identify the animal if possible.  This is vital.  If the animal is a pet a quick check with the owner and veterinarian will indicate whether or not it has been vaccinated.

If no animal can be located—the victim will usually be forced to undergo Pre-emptive rabies shots.  Although not as painful as they were in the past, rabies shots are expensive, unpleasant and best avoided if possible.

• Seek necessary medical treatment for the victim.
• Contact Animal Control at (402)444-7800 and press 1.  Officers will arrive to contain the animal, make a report, explain the procedures and issue any necessary citations.
• Animal Control Quarantines the biter. All pet animals identified as having bitten are to be quarantined for a period of 10 days for observation.  If the animal has a current rabies vaccination and has not been designated “dangerous” it can be quarantined at the owner’s home.  If the animal has no rabies vaccination, or no owner can be located, the animal will be quarantined at the Nebraska Humane Society or by a licensed Veterinarian.  Wild animals are sent for immediate rabies testing.
• Reporting the Outcome.  Once testing or quarantine is done, victims will receive a report on the outcome.

Because rabies is fatal to humans all cities in the metro area require a rabies shot before an animal can be licensed.  Do your part and vaccinate your pet!

Barking Dogs are inevitable.  Lets face it, dogs bark!  But when the noise continues and the owners do nothing to stop it, it becomes a nuisance to neighbors.

• The first step is to talk to your neighbors about their barking dog.  If they leave their dog outside when they’re not home, chances are they don’t know the dog is creating a ruckus.
• If the owners do nothing about the noise, or are unreachable, your next option is to call Animal Control at (402)444-7800 ext 1.  You need to call when the dog is barking.
• An officer will respond to the area, park up the street and listen.  If the barking continues steadily for several minutes (8-10) the officer will knock on the door and attempt to make contact with the dog owners.  Often, simply informing owners that they face citations if the dog doesn’t stop barking provides enough incentive to get them to take the dog inside and abate the nuisance.
• If the officer can’t make contact with the owners, he or she is authorized by city ordinance to enter the yard (if possible) and impound the dog to abate the nuisance.
• The officer will leave notice on the door informing the owner of the impound and the owner is then required to retrieve the dog at the Nebraska Humane Society subject to all impound fees and citation fines. 

*If your dog is a barker and you need help to control the behavior click on “Training and Petcare” on our home page.  Under “Behavior Help” you’ll find a whole list of articles that can help!

Stray Dogs are illegal in Omaha and most of the surrounding communities. Wandering dogs often end up hit by cars, tormented by non-animal lovers, and, if frightened can bite strangers out of fear and pain.  Reporting stray dogs is a true service both for the public’s and the dog’s safety.  Call (402)444-7800 ext 1. 

• Animals picked up in Omaha are held for 3 days (per city ordinance) at the Nebraska Humane Society.
• Animals picked up in Sarpy County are held for 5 days (per city ordinance) at the Nebraska Humane Society
• Animals not claimed in the allotted time period become property of the Nebraska Humane Society and are evaluated for entry into our adoption program.

Stray cats are not illegal in Omaha and Unincorporated Sarpy County. Because of this, Animal Control officers do not pick up stray cats in these two municipalities.  Other surrounding cities do have cat leash laws.

Wildlife often tries to coexist with us, even in residential and urban areas.  Often our housing and businesses encroach on areas that have been habitat for groups of wild animals for years.

Animal Control will respond to any wildlife call involving an animal that appears to be sick, is threatening, or creates a public safety issue.  Call (402)444-7800 ext 1.

Officers are not authorized to trap healthy or non-threatening wildlife simply for relocation. However if you are having difficulty with encroaching wildlife click on the “Wildlife” button on our homepage and scroll through “Living with Area Wildli