2018-056 Loose or Stray AnimalsDate: May 11, 2018 Report No. 2018-056
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Information on reporting loose domestic animals and notifications to citizens about reporting
procedures.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On May 1, 2018 Council Member Briggs requested that information be provided on reporting
loose dogs and methods for notifying citizens of this information. The City’s Animal Services
Department handles reports regarding loose animals throughout the City. Citizens can call
Animal Services at (940) 349-7594 Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the
police non-emergency number at (940) 349-8181 outside of those business hours. If there is an
emergency (aggressive animal, animal hit by a car, etc.), citizens should call 911. Additionally,
there is a form on the City’s website where reports can be made online. This information has
been included in the upcoming issue of the Resident Update that will be mailed in early June.
BACKGROUND:
The City receives approximately 67 calls per month for loose dogs or cats and 60 percent of
those result in officers unable to locate or apprehend the animal. The table below provides detail
on the results of reports to the City for loose dogs and cats from October 1, 2015 to April 30,
2018. The average response time for animal service officers to respond to a call is less than an
hour.
Cat Reports FY 15-16 FY 16-17 FY 17-18 (YTD) Total
Citation 0 0 0 0
Disregard by Citizen 6 1 3 10
Animal Impounded 9 13 7 29
Unable to
Apprehend
1 2 2 5
Unable to Locate 14 6 5 25
Warning Issued 9 19 8 36
Grand Total 39 41 25 105
Dog Reports FY 15-16 FY 16-17 FY 17-18 (YTD) Total
Citation 2 5 2 9
Disregard by Citizen 32 35 28 95
Animal Impounded 103 88 65 256
Unable to
Apprehend
31 40 33 104
Unable to Locate 384 433 292 1109
Warning Issued 110 157 126 393
Grand Total 662 758 546 1966
Date: May 11, 2018 Report No. 2018-056
The more information that can be provided, the greater opportunity to successfully address the
citizen’s concerns. Some helpful information to describe the situation, includes:
A specific address or location;
Specific times when the problem is occurring or more likely to occur;
How long the situation has been occurring;
Person(s) involved, if known; and,
If the Police Department or Animal Services has been previously notified about the
situation, and the name of officer or staff person who was notified, if known.
The addition of signage at 40 parks locations providing information on how to report loose
animals would be approximately $600. These signs would be placed near the current park rules
signage. Staff will procure and install these signs at the various park locations within 30 days.
STAFF CONTACT:
Sarah Kuechler
Director of Public Affairs
(940) 349-8356
Sarah.Kuechler@cityofdenton.com