For Animal Control emergencies, questions or comments, call 336-641-5990.
Office Hours 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday – Saturday. After hours, please contact your local non-emergency police department. If it is an emergency, contact 911.
Animal Control is responsible for enforcing state laws and county ordinances pertaining to animal control, animal cruelty, and abuse in the rural areas of Guilford County, the City of Greensboro, as well as the Town of Jamestown. The primary goals of the Animal Control program are to:
- Enforcing animal laws and ordinances
- Issuing citations
- Picking up stray and injured animals
- Providing informational services to the public concerning animal control and laws
View the Animal Control Ordinance
Guilford County’s Animal Control ordinance states: “The actions of an animal constitute a public nuisance when an animal disturbs the rights of, threatens the safety of, or damages a member of the general public, or interferes with the ordinary use and enjoyment of another’s property.” Contact us, if you believe there is a public nuisance in your area. We’ll need your help and support in providing a positive outcome.
Animal Control only responds to sick, injured, or vicious animals after hours. If a vicious dog is running at large, law enforcement personnel are dispatched and will respond to the call. Also, 911 Dispatch will contact the on-call Animal Control Officer to assist in the emergency. Please reserve general questions and inquiries for the business day.
Animal Control transports the animals to our partner, Guilford County Animal Shelter. Check out their website for details on the disposition of animals brought into the shelter.
There are many wonderful rescues operating in Guilford County, NC and the surrounding area. You can locate them by search engine if you put in our area, what you're looking to adopt and the word "Rescue."
A high volume dog breeder is defined as a breeder who maintains more than seven intact female dogs during any calendar year. A high volume dog retailer is any person who sells, resells or transfers ownership of more than 50 dogs during any calendar year including selling, reselling and transferring dogs to pet stores, breeders, kennels and dealers. High volume breeders and retailers will be required to obtain a permit (at no cost to them) and be inspected annually by Guilford County Animal Control.
High volume breeders and retailers may obtain an application for a permit by contacting GCAC at 641-5990. Once the application has been completed by the facility owner/representative and submitted to GCAC, an appointment to inspect the facility will be established by GCAC. The annual inspection will include: animal housing, nutrition and hydration, behavioral requirements, grouping, staffing, handling and health/veterinary care. If the facility passes the inspection, a permit will be issued. If the facility does not pass inspection, the facility owner/representative will be provided with information on how to correct the problem(s). Once the problems are rectified and the facility has been re-inspected, it will be issued a permit.
Facility inspection results are public record and are available to the public upon request by contacting GCAC. Subsequent annual inspections will occur unannounced.
Ownership of an inherently dangerous animal within the county is unlawful. Examples of inherently dangerous animals are bears, big cats (lion, tigers, panthers, etc.) and wolves. All owners of exotic animals must obtain a permit (at no cost to them). The purpose of this is to let Animal Control know where these animals are located and housed in case of some type of emergency that would require evacuation or alternate housing/location arrangements. The permit may be obtained by calling Guilford County Animal Control at 336-641-5990.
Animal Control receives numerous inquiries about wildlife. If wildlife is causing damage to your property, or maybe, you simply want the wildlife removed, contact a private firm for a consultation. Here’s a list for animal relocation services in Greensboro and the surrounding area:
- Animal Control Experts LLC: 336-303-0223
- Critter Control of the Triad: 336-370-0445
- Bug Out: 855-460-0512
- Pest Management Systems Inc.: 336-272-4400
- Triad Wildlife Experts: 336-365-0564
- Wildlife Care, Inc.: 336-697-4006
If there a nuisance dog or cat in your neighborhood, a pet allowed to run at large, or a stray, contact Animal Control, provide us with as much information as possible. If we can find the owner of the animal, we will talk with the owner and, if necessary, we will issue citations for violations of the Animal Control Ordinance. Violations of the Animal Control ordinance vary with the maximum fine being $500 per incident per animal for certain ordinance violations while the most common fine starting at $100 for first offense of an ordinance violations.
Cats, cats, cats. What’s the deal with cats running at large? Can they? Is there a leash law for cats? Animal Control advocates for responsible pet ownership. Responsible pet ownership includes keeping cats under control of an owner. The Animal Control ordinance does not mandate a leash for cats. Have you seen a domestic animal not being watered, fed or provided with adequate shelter? Animal Control investigates allegations of animal cruelty. We assign an Animal Control Officer to the case. The disposition of the case is left to the professional judgement of the Animal Control Officer. All steps are taken to identify an owner. Appropriate and proportional legal action can be an end result in the investigation.