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Animal Services

Show All Answers

1. How much does it cost to adopt a new pet?

Any dog under five years old is $60 and older than five years will be $30. Cats and kittens are $20 adoption fee. We do not charge an adoption fee for any pet that is over 10 years old. This fee covers the spay or neuter, microchipping, rabies vaccination, booster shots, de-worming, and flea and tick treatment. We test our dogs for heartworms and our cats for feline leukemia. Considering everything that is included, our adoption fee is a great deal. Taking a "free" pet from a newspaper ad or friend can cost up to three times as much on basic health services at a veterinary clinic. However, the services provided by Fayetteville Animal Services are in no way intended to be a substitution for regular professional veterinary care. Also, by adopting from our shelter, you not only save the life of that animal, you support our services so that we can continue to care for abandoned, stray, injured, and sick animals. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

2. What do I need to do if an animal bites me?

Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water. If the bite results in an open, bleeding wound seek immediate medical attention. Make a note of the animal that includes the species, breed, color, and size if you do not know who owns it. If you know the owner of the offending animal, get the owner's contact information.
Animal Services must be contacted at 479-444-3456 and a bite report must be filed. If the bite occurs after business hours, contact the Fayetteville Police Department at 479-587-3555. This process complies with the Arkansas Rabies Control Act and is designed to contain the spread of rabies.
If the animal is a stray or wildlife (raccoon, possum, etc.) a rabies infection could be possible. An Animal Services Officer will make every effort to capture the animal for rabies testing. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

3. Whom do I call if I have an after hours emergency that involves animals?

Call the Fayetteville Police non-emergency number at 479-587-3555. A dispatcher will take your information and an Animal Services Officer will return your call. We have an Animal Services Officer on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Please note that we are only able to respond to emergency calls outside of regular hours.

4. What kinds of donations does the Animal Shelter need?

The shelter has many needs that can be filled by donations from the public such as blankets, towels, toys, pet carriers, canned pet food, aluminum cans (by the bag), office supplies, bleach, laundry soap, dish soap, and paper towels.
There is no need to schedule an appointment to drop off donations. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

5. I just moved into Fayetteville. How do I register my pet's microchip?

You have 30 days to notify Animal Services that you have a pet with a microchip. You can simply fill out a microchip registration form linked below or call Animal Services at 479-444-3456 and give your and your pet's information. Make sure to have the microchip number ready.
If you don't know your pet's microchip number you, can go to the shelter at 1640 S. Armstrong Avenue in Fayetteville and we will scan your pet and register the chip number in our local database. We can also give you contact information to nationally register the microchip. Pet Microchip Registration Form

6. What do I need to know about rabies?

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus carried in animals infected with the disease. The most common carriers of rabies are wild animals such as skunks, raccoons, and bats. These animals can infect a household pet that could, in turn, pass the disease on to people and other animals.

Care should be taken to avoid situations that place your pet in contact with wild animals. Because there is a possibility that any strange animal may not have been vaccinated, adults should caution children to use care when around strange and unknown animals. All dogs and cats in the State of Arkansas are required by law to be vaccinated against rabies. A veterinarian licensed by the State of Arkansas must administer this vaccination.
It is important that your dog or cat receive a rabies vaccination. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

7. I put in an application to adopt one of your animals, why do I have to wait to bring it home?

Our goal is to find permanent, loving homes for companion animals. We evaluate the animals to the best of our ability to assure they will be suitable family pets. Our 24 hour wait period allows our veterinary staff to spay or neuter, microchip, rabies vaccinate, and feline leukemia or heartworm test the new addition to your family.

This also gives you time to purchase the items you need such as collars, leashes, food, bowls, litter boxes, dog houses, and pet carriers. If a pet is already spayed or neutered, you may be able to take the animal home sooner. For more information, contact the Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

8. Are you a "No Kill" shelter?

We are an "open admission" municipal shelter, meaning we take in every animal regardless of age, health, or temperament. We only provide animal services for city of Fayetteville residents and animals found within Fayetteville city limits. "No kill" shelters often selectively accept their animals knowing they can be placed.

The standard definition of "no kill" is an annual euthanasia rate below 10%. Fayetteville Animal Services has met that benchmark since 2013.

Because we take in sick, behaviorally unsound and very old animals, we cannot place all of them in homes. If the animal is aggressive or has an illness/injury that will take major resources or constitutes a quality of life issue, we are committed to providing humane euthanasia. Those decisions are made by our staff Veterinarian. For more information, contact the Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

9. Is Animal Services responsible for picking up dead animals?

If you notice a deceased animal (wildlife or domestic) on any city street or sidewalk please contact us at 479-444-3456.  We will place a service request for animal control to pick up the body as long as it is safe for the officer to do so.  If the animal is on a state highway (such as Highway 265/Crossover Road) you will need to call the state highway department for pick up at 479-251-8418.

10. My pet is sick, what do I need to do?

We are not able to treat owned animals that are ill or injured. If your pet becomes ill or injured, you should call your veterinarian or the one nearest to you. Local veterinarians' phone numbers are listed in the yellow pages of the phone book under the heading "Veterinarians". For after-hours emergencies, most veterinarians leave a message on their answering machine giving you a number to call to contact a veterinarian on emergency call. The Animal Emergency Clinic of Northwest Arkansas is located in Springdale and open from 6pm-7am. Their phone number is 479-927-0007.

Animal Emergency Clinic of Northwest Arkansas

11. What can I do to get involved with the Fayetteville Animal Shelter?

Opportunities are available for volunteers at the shelter, in the office, and at special events. We need people to walk dogs, socialize cats, and generally spread awareness about what we do. You can also become a foster parent for us. Foster parents will bring animals into their homes to care for while trying to find a forever home for that animal. This gives us more space and you get to take an active part in our adoption process. We have new volunteer orientation every other Saturday at 10 am here at our facility.

Contact the Animal Services at 479-444-3456 to find out when the next orientation will be.

12. What do you do with the money I donated to the Animal Shelter?

Financial contributions are placed into a Donation Fund. The donations are used to purchase vaccinations, medicines, and pet supplies that are not allotted for in the Animal Services budget. The shelter spends 100% of your tax-deductible donation on the animals in our care.

Financial donations may be earmarked to help fund our spay and neuter program or any other purpose you would prefer. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

13. Who is responsible for registering my pet's microchip?

The pet owner is always responsible for making sure that their pet's microchip is registered with Fayetteville Animal Services as well as with the microchip company the owner purchased the microchip from.

Any chip that is purchased from Animal Services will be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) for you. Any change in address or phone numbers should be reported to Animal Services pursuant to Fayetteville city code chapter 92. The City of Fayetteville is not responsible for ensuring that your information is kept current.

14. I lost my pet, what do I need to do?

You can file a lost pet report online. The most important thing you can do is come down to the animal shelter and look for yourself. There is no one that can identify your pet better than you. Come to the shelter every three or four days and look for your pet. Talk to your neighbors. Many times your pet may have stayed close to your home, but a neighbor may have taken your pet in thinking it was a stray. Many newspapers will not charge you to post a lost animal classified ad. The Fayetteville Craigslist page has a good lost and found section and social networking sites like Facebook, the Nextdoor app and Twitter can help spread the word. Check with veterinary clinics in your area.

Fayetteville Craigslist Page

15. I found a stray, what do I need to do?

The most important thing is to never approach an animal that you think may be dangerous. Your personal safety is very important to us. If the animal appears to be friendly, check for tags and call the numbers. Arrange a meeting with the owner if you can locate one. If the animal is not wearing tags, bring him or her to the Fayetteville Animal Shelter or the nearest veterinary clinic to have it scanned for a microchip. If you like to go an extra step, we also recommend posting on social media such as the Nextdoor app or your neighborhood Facebook group.

Within Fayetteville city limits we will come to pick up stray dogs. Per city ordinance, stray cats must be confined in a carrier of some sort before we can pick it up. If you can not get close enough to the animal to check for tags or it is not wearing tags, call Animal Services at 479-444-3456 so that we can attempt to capture it. If you have found a stray, but don't wish to surrender it to the shelter, submit a Found Pet Report via the city's website. Be aware that once the animal has been in your possession for 72 hours you will need to make an appointment to surrender it to the shelter. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

Found Pet Forms

16. What do I do if I know about animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect?

To report instances of abuse or cruelty, or for more information regarding animal care, call Animal Services at 479-444-3456 or 479-587-3555 for after hours calls.

17. Why do I need to microchip my pet?

The Fayetteville City Council unanimously passed mandatory microchipping for all owned pets in January of 2012. Your pet’s microchip is his/her ticket home if he/she gets lost. Your pet’s microchip greatly increases the odds of him/her being returned to you. If your pet has a microchip our Animal Services Officers will attempt to return your pet to you if they pick it up.

Also, a microchip will prove that your pet is not a stray. If we have an animal that we know has an owner, we will hold onto the animal for five days longer than we do strays. You must register your pet's microchip with the City of Fayetteville. There is no fee to register the chip with the City, however there is a $20.00 fee for the service. You can bring your pet to the Shelter to be microchipped any time we are open.

You can download a microchip registration form by using the provided link, print it, and mail it to:

Animal Services
1640 S. Armstrong Ave
Fayetteville, AR 72701

For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456. Microchip Registration Form (PDF)

18. Does my pet need to wear his collar with identification tags, even if he never gets outside?

Yes. The collar and identification tags can only be effective in reuniting you and your lost pet if he/she is wearing it. There is always a possibility of a pet going on an "adventure" away from home. In fact, it is the pet that "never gets outside" that is less likely to return on their own because he/she is easily disoriented.

Approximately 1 in 3 pets will get lost at some point in their lives. Without wearing proper identification, 90% of them will not be returned. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

19. Does Fayetteville have a "leash law"?

Yes. Neither cats nor dogs are allowed to be "at large". An animal is to be considered at large if it is not under the physical control of the person in charge of it. It will not be considered at large if it is on the premises of the owner while accompanied by the owner.

Animals found running at large may be impounded which could result in impound fees and other fines. If you take your dog or cat for a walk, he/she must stay on leash the entire time. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

20. How many animals am I allowed to own?

It depends on the size of your property. You must have 100 square feet for every animal. That means if your house is 750 square feet you are legally allowed to own seven animals. For dogs, an enclosed yard will count toward overall square footage. There are additional ordinance requirements to ensure adequate pet care and sanitary conditions. For more information or to report a potential issue, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

21. I don't have a fenced yard and my dog can't stay inside all day while I'm away. Can I chain him/her outside?

No. Dogs are not allowed to be tied to a fixed point in Fayetteville. Studies have shown that chained dogs are the ones most likely to attack or bite. Chains can also become entangled, keeping the dog from food, water, and shelter.

Dogs that are chained are at risk of choking. Alternatives include purchasing or building a kennel run that is at least ten feet by ten feet per dog and crate training indoors. Trolley systems are a good alternative, but owners must be home while pets are utilizing the system. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

22. What is a trolley system?

A trolley system is a confinement system that uses cables and a pulley. There has to be one cable that attaches to the collar and it must be at least eight feet long. The trolley cable is fixed to two permanent points that are at least ten feet apart and it must be four to seven feet off the ground. It needs to have a swivel on at least one end of the trolley cable to prevent entanglement.

Trolley systems allow your pet to exercise while in a contained area. However, trolley systems are to be used only when you are on the premises. For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

23. What do I do if I have a nuisance wildlife problem?

Animal Services only responds to complaints of wildlife that has made entry into a living area of your home such as the living room, bedroom, etc. If you have wildlife that has made entry into your attic or crawlspace then we recommend contacting one of the local wildlife removal businesses in the area to humanely remove the animals. You may also purchase your own humane trap at any hardware store and trap the animal yourself. If you choose to trap yourself you must also be willing to relocate the animal yourself to an area outside the City limits. Animal Services will relocate a trapped animal for you only once per year.

24. What do I do if I have an animal in my own trap?

If you set a trap and catch a domestic animal (I.E. dog or cat), call Animal Services at 479-444-3456. An Officer will come, pick up the animal, and return the trap to you. In an effort to keep the shelter from being overburdened we will only accept 2 cats per week per Fayetteville resident. Officers will only respond to wildlife in a trap once per calendar year.

25. What can I do to keep animals out of my garden and my house?

Wildlife can be attracted to your garden as a source of food and your house as shelter. Following these tips can help:

DEER IN THE GARDEN - Run a small wire fence around the perimeter of your garden. Mount it about three feet off the ground and a few feet outside of your garden. Monofilament fishing line works great. When the deer get close enough to touch the fence, it spooks them and they run away.

WILDLIFE IN CHIMNEYS - Have your chimney cleaned once a year to make sure wildlife does not have an entrance in the first place. If one is inside, drop a rope down from the top of the chimney so they can climb out (this works great for raccoons). Once the animal is out you should contact a home repair service to replace or install a proper chimney cap to keep the animals from re-entering later.
If you have an open fireplace, make sure it is closed so they can not get into the house. Open the flue so they can come down into the fireplace. Once there, close the flue so the animal can not go back up. Trap it in your fireplace and call Animal Services so we can remove it. Do not try to smoke the animal out, as even a small amount of smoke can kill a small or young animal and this also poses a fire threat if the animal has built a nest in your chimney.

ANIMALS IN TRASH - Build a simple plywood box to house your trash cans. Also, try installing two eye-hole screws into a secure wall about the width of your trash can. Wrap a bungee cord around the trash can and fasten both ends to the screws. This method only works with trash cans with lids that are not easily opened. Do not use ammonia or bleach as they may poison the animal.

STRAY CATS - Stray or feral cats will go where there is food and stay there. Do not feed stray or feral cats. If you feed one soon you will be feeding so many that the situation will be uncontrollable. If you want to help a stray cat, bring it inside and make it a house pet. This is not suggested with aggressive or feral cats.

WILDLIFE UNDERNEATH HOUSES OR PORCHES - Porches make great shelter for wildlife, but it can be uncomfortable for the owner. Make sure to seal all entrances to underneath your home by fixing broken boards or installing new trellis. You may still need access to your crawl space, so install a lock.
For more information, contact Animal Services at 479-444-3456.

26. What do I do if I see a snake?

There are many different types of snakes that are native to the Fayetteville area and very few are venomous. Animal Control will respond 24-7 if you have a snake inside your residence. Just call Fayetteville Police Dispatch at 479-587-3555. Snakes seen outside should be left alone and will eventually go away. Here is some helpful information on snakes and other reptiles from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

27. What do I do if I see a bear?

The American black bear is native to the Fayetteville area, but there are very few sightings. While it can be scary to see a bear they generally pose no threat. If you see a bear within the city limits of Fayetteville please contact Fayetteville Police Dispatch at 479-587-3555. Animal Control will come out to monitor the bear to ensure it leaves the city limits safely.