Animal Ordinance, as approved by Wichita Falls City Council November 5, 2019
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Animal Services is responsible for enforcing the City's Animal Ordinances within the City limits of Wichita Falls. Patrolling neighborhoods and responding to calls from concerned citizens as well as animals dropped off at the Animal Services Center. Animal Services manages an average of 350 animals every month.

Animal Services Center

Located at 1207 Hatton Road, the Animal Services Center opened its doors in January 2011. This state of the art facility has 36 dog runs, 18 cat cages, a cat isolation room, an exotic animal room, livestock pen and State licensed dog and cat quarantine areas. This allows for a variety of animals to be housed while their owners are being sought.

Animal Control

Animal Control Officers (ACOs) patrol the streets of Wichita Falls five days a week. They also respond to calls from concerned citizens regarding loose animals, neglect and abuse complaints and dead animals as well as perform inspections for permitted businesses and animals such as: groomers, pet stores, livestock, fowl, breeders and performing animal shows.

All animals brought to the Animal Services Center are photographed and listed on the Center's Petango page. During normal business hours, 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday thru Friday, the ACO hotline, 940-761-7824, is answered by a dispatcher.

After 5:00pm, Monday thru Friday and on weekends and holidays,  ACOs respond to emergency calls only. To reach the on-call ACO after hours, follow instructions provided through the Animal Control Hotline: 940-761-7824.


After hours emergencies consist of the following:

• Dog or cat bites consisting of broken skin on humans
• Stray Animals with life threatening injuries
• Loose livestock
• Dead animals that are a traffic hazard
• Wild animals in homes
• Venomous snakes in homes
• Dogs attacking other animals
• Owner arrested with an animal in the vehicle
• Skunks out in daylight hours only.

Animal Control does not respond to the following non-emergency calls after 5pm:

• Owned animals that are sick or injured.
• Owned animals that are in their own yards that need food, water, shelter or veterinary care.
• Loose dogs with mange, foaming at the mouth, emaciated, tick infested or any other conditions that are not life threatening.
• Dead animals on streets that are not a traffic hazard, small dead animals, dead animals on side streets (not main thorough fares) or dead animals in streets in either early/late hours of the day or during time of light or no traffic.
• Barking dogs
• Sightings of skunks or other nocturnal animals out at night.
• Loose pit bulls. We treat all dogs equally regardless of the breed.

The on-call ACO screens all incoming calls to determine which calls fit into the definition of an emergency. Calls that are not considered an emergency will be responded to as able or during the next business day.