Animal Control
Services
The Animal Control Division within the Bay City Police Department is one of the busiest. Animal Control Officers (ACOs) are responsible for the enforcement of all laws and regulations pertaining to the Texas Department of State Health Services (Zoonosis Control) and the City of Bay City’s city ordinances governing Animal Control. The Animal Control Division works closely with the Bay City-Matagorda County Impound, as well as the Matagorda County Environmental Services.
In addition, ACOs are responsible for investigating:
- Missing or stolen animals
- Checking an animal’s welfare
- Public nuisance animals
- Animal bites
- Removal of dead animals on City property
- Bee calls
- And more
The Animal Control Division also works with the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in its effort to investigate cruelty to animal cases. ACOs have donated their personal time to the local SPCA for support. ACOs also spend time speaking to children at local schools on animal and rabies awareness.
Live Traps
The Animal Control Officers will pick up stray, domestic, and wild animals, including reptiles. The Animal Control Division has several live traps that are placed on your property, within the City of Bay City. These traps are used to capture difficult animals. There is a waiting list for these traps, and they are delivered on a first come, first served basis.
The length of time you may use the trap is largely dependent on the number of citizens requesting one; the average time of use for a trap is about 3 to 5 days. Citizens are responsible for baiting the trap. Citizens are also asked to help transport captured domestic animals to the animal shelter. Wild animals will be relocated by the ACOs.
Animal Impound
If you have questions about the Bay City-Matagorda County Animal Impound, please call 979-323-1706.