Animal Control
The Cary Police
Department employs three civilian animal control officers. They are
responsible for investigating animal cruelty cases, reports of rabid animals, and animal bites. The animal control officers also enforce the leash law and other Town ordinances regulating dogs,
cats and other animals. In addition, they capture stray and lost
animals, and maintain pet tag files.
Animal Control works closely with other animal service organizations such as the Wake County SPCA. Stray dogs and cats are usually kept at the SPCA shelter in Garner until they are adopted, picked up by the confirmed owner or euthanized. You can reach the SPCA by calling 919-772-3203.
Animal Control Officers provide an important community service by appearing before school groups, senior citizen groups or other community groups to discuss animal control topics or show breeds of dogs, cats or other animals of interest.
Hours of Operation
Animal Control officers are available seven days a week.Sunday through Saturday, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Animal calls received at other hours or on holidays are handled by police officers.
If you see an animal that you believe may be rabid, call to report the location of the animal. Do not try to touch or capture the animal because it may attempt to bite you. Animals with rabies usually show some type of behavioral change. They can be aggressive and excited or depressed and lethargic. They may be uncoordinated and unfocused on the presence of humans around them.
In Cary, the most common types of wildlife which may carry the rabies virus are raccoons, foxes and bats. These animals, which normally avoid humans, are nocturnal and it is unusual for them to be active during daylight hours. If you see a raccoon, fox or bat during daylight hours and it appears to be sick or is aggressive toward other animals or humans, move to a safe location and call immediately. The law requires that your dog or cat be vaccinated against rabies.
If you are bitten by a domesticated animal, North Carolina law requires that you report it to the police department. An animal control officer will investigate, and the animal’s owner will be required to show proof of rabies vaccination. In addition, any domesticated animal that has bitten someone is required to undergo a 10 day quarantine at the owner’s home. If circumstances warrant, the animal may be quarantined at a local veterinary hospital or the Garner SPCA at the owner’s expense.
One way to prevent your animal from biting a person or another animal is to obey the leash law. The Town of Cary requires that all dogs and cats be on a leash or lead if they are not on the owner’s property. The leash law also protects animals from injury.
All dogs and cats 4 months of age and older within the jurisdiction of the Town of Cary are required to wear a pet tag. If your pet becomes lost and animal control locates it, information on the ownership of the animal is quickly obtained by checking the pet tag number with computer records. It is vital to the safety of your pet to keep this information current, so please take the time to contact Animal Control by phone or mail with your change of address or phone number. There is no charge to update this information.
Pet tags may be obtained for a one-time fee of $20.00 for animals that have not been neutered or spayed and $10.00 for animals that have been neutered or spayed. You must provide proof from your veterinarian that this operation has been performed. Acceptable forms of proof are either a copy of the bill for the operation or your veterinarian’s signature on the pet tag application form.
If the tag becomes lost, you will need to once again provide proof that your pet has been spayed or neutered.
For questions concerning animal control issues, please call (919) 319-4517.You can download Pet Tag Application Form (PDF Format) here.
If your pet has been picked up by Animal Control, you may claim it between the hours of noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and between noon and 4 p.m. on Saturdays at:
Wake County SPCA
327 Hwy 70 East
Garner, North Carolina
(919) 772-3203
If you have lost an animal, call the Animal Control office at 319-4517 and provide a description and the last known location of your animal. If you find an animal, you should report it immediately to the Animal Control division so that the owner can be located promptly. In some cases, those that find/report lost animals may hold onto them if they desire until an owner is located.
Contacts
Shelly Davis
Animal Control Supervisor
Cary Police Department
120 Wilkinson Ave
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 319-4517
shelly.davis@townofcary.org
Michele Schulz
Animal Control Officer
Cary Police Department
(919) 319-4517
michele.schulz@townofcary.org
Chuck Haggist
Animal Control Officer
Cary Police Department
(919) 319-4517
chuck.haggist@townofcary.org