Animal Control

Deceased Cat Found in the area of 784 Main Rd. Cat is Black, Female, 5-6 Years Old, Ear Tipped. For more information, please email Westport Animal Control - AC@westport-ma.gov 

E-mail Animal Control: AC@westport-ma.gov
Animal Control now has their own Facebook Page Click HERE

ANIMAL CONTROL HOURS

MONDAY -  FRIDAY; 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Rabies Warning

Westport Animal Control Mission Statement

The Westport Animal Control office’s primary mission is to protect the safety of the public and animals. Ensure compliance with the town, state, and federal laws of governing animals. Educate and promote responsible pet ownership. Provide temporary housing and care of animals. Reunite missing pets with owners and re-home unclaimed animals.

The Animal Control department is responsible for:

• Enforcing Laws pertaining to Vaccinations/ Licenses or other violations
• Picking up stray animals
• Animal bite quarantines/ Investigating causes
• All animal complaints from the public
• Investigating cruelty and/or neglect complaints
• Removing animals killed on roadways (Deer Handled by Highway Dept)
• Removing sick or injured wildlife: determine risk of rabies exposure and need for testing
• Providing information about wildlife
• Educating the public about pet ownership

****Rabies Clinic May 4th, 2024****

Renew April 1st at Town Hall Town Clerk's Office at 816 Main Road

New residents have 30 days to license after the move in date. If your dog is currently licensed in another Massachusetts City/Town you may transfer that license. Please contact the Town Clerk for more information on transfer requirements.

IF YOU FIND A SICK BIRD ON TOWN BEACH (Cherry & Webb, Knubble Beach, and East Beach)  PLEASE CONTACT ANIMAL CONTROL AT 774-264-5129.

IF THERE IS A SICK/ INJURED BIRD ON STATE BEACH (HORSENECK, GOOSEBERRY ISLAND) PLEASE REACH OUT TO DCR AT 508-636-8816.

If YOUR CAT OR DOG IS MISSING

- Check with your neighbors

- Check Facebook page/ Group

- Call Animal Control at 774-264-5129

If your pet is picked up by Animal Control and is brought to the shelter (The Humane Society & Shelter South Coast located at 31 Ventura Dr North, Dartmouth, MA 02747) please know it cannot be released without a current Rabies certificate, per State Law. (you may be asked for proof of current town license as well)

Click here for more info about shelter.

Remember:  As Animal Control, it is our goal to reunite lost pets with their families as quickly as possible. 

A person shall not leave a dog outside when a weather advisory, warning or watch is issued by a local, state or federal authority or when outside environmental conditions including, but not limited to, extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, snow or hail pose an adverse risk to the health or safety of the dog based on the dog's breed, age or physical condition, unless the tethering is for not more than 15 minutes.

Westport is a Right to Farm Community - please visit the Agricultural Commission Page for more info HERE

FERAL/COMMUNITY CATS

Do you enjoy feeding the feral/community cats but are concerned about the unpleasant odors of the male cats spraying, marking their territory, fighting over female cats in heat, litters of unwanted kittens?

The T-N-R(Trap,Neuter,Return) is where the cat is trapped in a humane trap, brought to be spayed/neutered, receives a Rabies vaccination, is ear tipped(a portion of the left ear is snipped off to identify the cat a part of a manged colony that participates in the TNR program) and returned back to the trapping location. Be on the look out for kittens, they can make a good pet if young enough. More information is available by contacting Animal Control at 774-264-5129.

IF YOU ARE FEEDING FERAL CATS YOU ASSUME OWNERSHIP AND WILL BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SICKNESS OR INJURY.

Feral Cat Policy

THE BOARD OF HEALTH HAS IMPLEMENTED A POLICY REGARDING FERAL CAT FEEDING. 

           PROVIDING A FOOD SOURCE FOR WILD ANIMALS CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON WILDLIFE, DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND RAISES HUMAN HEALTH CONCERNS

• REMOVING THE FOOD SOURCE WILL DISCOURAGE WILDLIFE FROM FREQUENTING YOUR PROPERTY.
• TAKE IN BIRD FEEDERS AS WELL AS DOG AND CAT FOOD DISHES AT NIGHT.
• BE SURE TRASH RECEPTACLES HAVE SECURED TOPS OR PLACE THEM IN A SHED OR GARAGE.

FERAL CATS ARE CATS THAT WERE BORN IN THE WILD AND HAVE NOT HAD HUMAN CONTACT.

TO AID WITH THE OVERPOPULATION OF FERAL CATS THE TOWN PARTICIPATES IN A TRAP/NEUTER/RETURN (TNR) PROGRAM WHERE FERAL CATS ARE TRAPPED, SPAYED/NEUTERED AND RETURNED TO THEIR TRAPPING LOCATIONS. (FUNDING IS SOMETIMES AVAILABLE FOR THIS SERVICE) CATS IN THE TNR PROGRAM GET VACCINATED FOR RABIES AND ARE EARTIPPED; SOME ARE ALSO MICROCHIPPED FOR FURTHER IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES. KITTENS TRAPPED IN FERAL COLONIES THAT CAN BE SOCIALIZED ARE TRANSFERRED TO AN ADOPTION AGENCY. 

IF YOU ARE FEEDING FERAL CATS YOU ASSUME OWNERSHIP AND WILL BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SICKNESS OR INJURY.

Dog Information:

REMINDER: Please keep your dog contained to your property.... it's not only the law but it reduces the chance of your dog either being struck by a vehicle, being picked up and taken home by a passerby (claiming it as their own) or ending up in "doggie jail". Also make sure that when walking your dog you are picking up after them.

HELPFUL TIPS:

• Be sure your dog is licensed and wearing its license and rabies tags secured to its collar.
• Write you name and phone number on its collar.
• Have it microchipped - **Please be sure your information is current with your microchip company!!

Animal Control does not remove Nuisance wildlife. If you have wild animals in your home, please contact PAC Agents to have the animals removed. Animal Control does not remove deceased wildlife from your property unless it is a deceased vector species such as skunk, woodchuck, raccoon, fox, and coyote. All other animals and birds are the responsibility of the home owner. If any animal smaller than a deer is on the side of the road after normal working hours Animal Control will pick it up the next business day.