City Departments | Calendar | Phone Directory | Jobs | City Newsletter

Animal Control - Officer Training

Animal Control

The Waco Animal Control Unit is a five (5) Officer Unit that services the City of Waco and is dispatched by the Waco Police Department at 750-7500.

Our primary goal is the prevention and eradication of rabies by education of the public concerning local and state laws, promoting animal owner responsibility, and by protecting the public from stray or dangerous animals.

Service Area

The City of Waco Animal Control Unit will answer calls within the corporate city limits of Waco. If the Waco Police or the Waco Fire Department respond to your residence or business, the Animal Control will also respond.

    How You Can Help

      1. Keep your pet confined on your property by fence, kennel or trolley system.
      2. Have your dogs and cats vaccinated at a licensed veterinarian. This will prevent your pet from becoming infected with any deadly and contagious disease.
      3. Spay or neuter your pets. Prevention is the key to reducing the number of unwanted pets.
      4. Provide your animal with adequate food, water and shelter. Shelter is defined as at least three sides, a roof, and a floor raised off the ground at least 2 inches.
      5. Confine female pets when in heat.
      6. Clean up after your pet. Pet feces is responsible for spreading and infecting other neighboring animals.
      7. Put identification and rabies tags on your pets. This will help identify your pet in case of injury or loss.
      8. Consider microchipping your pet. If you pet is lost or stolen, the chip can be scanned by shelter staff or animal control officers and returned to you.
      9. Educate your children to stay away from all stray animals and to notify their parent, teacher or adult when one is around.

      The Waco Animal Control Unit offers a variety of services to the citizens of Waco and surrounding McLennan County.

ServicesAnimal Control

Animal Bites

The officer will respond to and investigate reports of animal bites. Confirmed bites will require a report containing the information surrounding the incident and the offending animal will be quarantined for 10 days.

Vicious Animals

The officers will respond to reports of animals that are acting aggressive. All reasonable attempts to capture the animal safely will be made. Safety concerns go first to citizens, officer and then other animals.

Wildlife

The officers will respond to calls of wildlife that are in areas where citizen safety is of concern. For example: Fox, raccoon, skunk in a neighborhood during the day. Please note a squirrel, raccoon in the attic is not an animal control issue. This is best handled by a pest control company.

Livestock

The officers will respond to calls of loose livestock inside the City Limits of Waco. Livestock include Cattle, Horses, Sheep or Goats, Pigs and the like.

Cruelty and Neglect

The officers will respond to and investigate reports of animal cruelty and neglect and take action required or necessary to correct the situation.

Warnings and Citations

The officers may issue Written Warnings or Citations for any violation of the City Code of Animal Ordinances.

Classes

The Waco Animal Control Unit regularly gives classes on Animal Safety or animal related topics at schools, neighborhood association meetings or any organization meeting. Those interested should call the unit at least one month in advance for scheduling.

Assist Citizens

The officers answer questions from citizens on a daily basis made either in person, by telephone or by letter.

Animal Grievance Board

The City of Waco has an Animal Grievance Board (AGB) that will chair complaints that are difficult for Animal Control to work or that may by complainant request desire more action to be taken. It involves a petition to be circulated by the complainant of 3% of the neighborhood within 600 feet of the animals concerned. The AGB holds their hearings once a month and may impose remedial requirements for an animal owner in order to correct an alleged problem. You may contact Animal Control for more information.

 

Proposed Intact Animal Ordinance

Waco Police Department>>