FAQs About Animal Control & Wildlife Services

If you find a stray dog in the area, and the dog is friendly, try to contain the dog in your yard or on your porch. Check the dog for any tags or identification and call the township police department’s non-emergency number at (609) 267-8300. Animal Control will contact you directly to make arrangements to pick up the dog from your property.

You may be able to temporarily hold onto a found dog or cat, but only if it’s approved by the animal control officer for your town. In most cases, it’s still best to have the ACO take the animal to the contracted shelter, because that is the first place an owner will look when their pet goes missing. Reporting the animal immediately also ensures the required stray‑hold period begins, protects the owner’s legal right to reclaim their pet, and keeps you compliant with local ordinances.

Losing a pet can be a very stressful experience. Following these steps can help reunite you with your lost pet more quickly:

• Be proactive! Nobody expects a pet to go missing, so your pet should always wear a collar with an ID tag that has your phone number on it. Check the tag regularly to ensure it is still readable.
• Have your pet spayed or neutered. In addition to all the health benefits, it decreases an animal's desire to roam away from home. 
• Get your pet microchipped. This permanent form of ID can't be detached or obscured. Local shelters offer microchips at reduced rates. Make sure to keep your information updated with the microchip company if you move or get a new phone number.
• Take photos of your pet! Be sure to keep a few current ones on hand for emergency purposes.
• If your pet has gotten away from you, call the local Animal Shelter. You can file a lost report with them in case someone finds your pet. However, because descriptions may vary, it is best to visit the Shelter in person. 
• Make a flyer complete with color photos of your pet. You can bring a copy of the flyer to the shelter, post flyers around your neighborhood, and post the information to social media sites.
• Call animal control at (609) 685-3384. We can advise you if we have picked up an animal and transported it to the Shelter. If not, we can take a report from you in case we are dispatched for a call or someone calls our office to report they found an animal.

In order to effectively assist you with lost or abandoned dogs, cats, or other domestic animals, NJAC suggests you contact your local police department. The Police Department staff can either dispatch your township’s Animal Control Officer or provide guidance in contacting other local contacts, such as animal rescue shelters.