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The Division of Public Health is pleased to announce the launch of statewide animal control services on January 1, 2016. Delaware Animal Services (DAS), the Office of Animal Welfare, will enforce all dog control, animal cruelty, and rabies control beginning January 1, 2016. This letter is to inform you about this new function and the resources available to your constituents. Special Note: The City of Wilmington will maintain services until June 30, 2016, at which time services will transfer to Delaware Animal Services.
Delaware Animal Services is a 24/7 Operation:
DAS will receive calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Delaware residents wishing to report stray or injured animals, animal cruelty, or rabies exposures. Our in-house dispatch service operates between 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. After-hours calls are received by our call service, which will dispatch emergency calls to on-call officers.
Convenient Reporting Options: CALL 302-255-4646
Residents can contact Delaware Animal Services at 302-255-4646. Non-emergency reports may also be submitted by email at DelawareAnimalServices@state.de.us.
Animal Welfare Officers Offer Local Service:
All officers are assigned to a district – North, Central, or South district – to encourage engagement with the local community, provide fast response times, and to enable partnership with local law enforcement and other stakeholder groups. To become familiar with district teams, see Page 2. Stray animal shelters will also be provided for each district to allow residents to conveniently retrieve their missing pet.
DAS Officers are Highly Trained:
All animal welfare officers have completed Animal Control and Cruelty Certification by the State of Delaware, Delaware Criminal Justice Communications System (DELJIS) Training, and expert animal handling training. All full-time officers have also completed the four-week Delaware State Constable Academy and are certified as state constables. Additionally, DAS provides supplemental training, such as CPR training, community policing techniques for animal control, and communications/ dispatch training. Officers also receive ongoing field training and assessment.
Wide Variety of Services:
Delaware Animal Services will respond to calls for assistance with stray or aggressive dogs, seriously injured/ill or endangered cats, and stray livestock. We also provide assistance to other law enforcement agencies when necessary, facilitate dog licensing, and investigate all reports of animal cruelty. DAS enforces rabies control laws and investigates all cases of human rabies exposures to ensure animals are properly quarantined. Finally, our officers conduct kennel and retail pet store inspections.
Service Website with Lost and Found Pet Registry: www.AnimalServices.delaware.gov
On January 1, DAS will launch the first state Lost and Found Pet Registry, enabling owners to easily find lost pets retrieved by officers or local shelters, and allowing owners of lost pets to post alerts. Later in the month, the website will be updated to allow residents to purchase a dog license, report animal cruelty, or learn more about our services.
RELATED DOCUMENTS:
Read full letter from DHS on 12/23/2015
Chester County SPCA Sheltering Services - 12/21/2015
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