The Animal Control Division provides many animal related services to the residents of Gloucester County.
When stray animals make their way onto your property, knowing when to call animal control could help you avoid personal injury while helping ensure that nuisance animals are treated and removed humanely.
“Our Animal Control Officers exist to protect animals as well as people. If you're not sure whether to contact animal control, you may want to stay on the side of caution and make that call,” said Commissioner Director Robert M. Damminger.
“Animal control agents play an important role in communities by ensuring that domestic animals and the people around them are safe,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Frank J. DiMarco.
Here are some of the services Gloucester County Animal Control can assist with:
Wild Life/Bats/West Nile Virus
ACOs will respond to complaints of wildlife that are injured, sick, orphaned, or creating a nuisance within a home, excluding attics and basements. Residents with healthy problem wildlife outside of a home will be educated for exclusion procedures or given contact numbers for the New Jersey State Fish and Game.
Officers are available to respond to any bat found in the living portion of a home (bedroom, kitchen, etc.- not attics or basements) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bat will be removed and submitted to the State Health Department in Trenton for testing of Rabies. If you find a bat inside your home, do not attempt to remove it yourself.
For bat problems contact Animal Control at 856-881-2828
Animal Bites
Animal Control Officers (ACOs) will investigate any report of an animal bite and report it to the Gloucester County Health Department. In some cases, the animal may be quarantined at the Animal Shelter at the cost of the owner. ACOs will also investigate and enforce the State law regarding Vicious and Potentially Dangerous animals.
Animal Cruelty
For reports of animal cruelty, ACOs will begin an initial investigation where permitted by ordinance. If further action is needed, we will contact the appropriate agency for enforcement. For cases needing immediate attention, it is recommended that residents contact your local police department. For further information, please contact the Animal Control Office or view for more information on animal cruelty (PDF).
Emergency Services
ACOs will respond to any report of an injured or sick stray animal 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any sick or injured animal picked up by the Animal Control will be seen by a veterinarian and stabilized while an owner is located. We will also respond to any animal that is threatening the public, such as a wild animal in a living portion of a resident's home or an animal that prevents access to a home or business.
Stray Animals
ACOs will pick-up any stray animal within any township of the County between the hours of 8 am to 6 pm, seven days a week. ACOs will also respond during those hours to complaints of animals running at large, confined animals, and any animal creating a nuisance for a homeowner.
Traps
Animal traps will be provided to residents at no charge for the capture of stray domestic animals or sick wildlife. Traps will not be given for healthy, wildlife outside of a home for relocation. Please be aware that because of a limited number of traps it may take some time before one can be provided to you.
It’s very important to call Animal Control if you have any questions. We always urge residents to ask questions now, before it’s too late.
Our ACOs will take the time to educate and answer any questions you have. The Animal Control Office is open Monday, Friday & Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm and Tuesday through Thursday
8 am to 7 pm.
When calling 856-881-2828 after-hours, you will be instructed to make a selection:
- 1 for a non-emergency situation
- 2 for an emergency. If you select 2 for an emergency you will be transferred to a 911 Dispatcher, who will assess your emergency.
We ask that residents report only emergencies on the system and use the non-emergency line for any other information.
For more information, please visit www.gloucestercountynj.gov or call (856) 881-2828.