State guide
Missouri
Missouri animal control is commonly handled by city or county animal control/animal services offices, with local law enforcement or the sheriff sometimes covering unincorporated or after-hours calls. Wildlife issues are handled through the Missouri Department of Conservation, which tells the public to contact a local MDC office before taking action with injured or apparently orphaned wildlife.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually city or county animal control/animal services; in some unincorporated areas or after hours, the sheriff or police backstop service, as Jackson County’s official page shows.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Missouri Department of Conservation
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Mammalian animal bites must be reported to the local health authority or the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services within 24 hours of first knowledge or suspicion.
- State rabies contact
- Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Veterinary Public Health
Official resources in Missouri
Official MDC page on apparently orphaned wildlife and the legal limits on possessing wildlife.
State wildlife-health reporting page for sick or dead wildlife observations.
Official DHSS page explaining who must report mammalian animal bites and the timing.
State laboratory page for rabies testing of animal specimens with submission guidance.
Directory page for local public health agencies used for bite and rabies reporting.
Key facts for Missouri
- DHSS says mammalian animal bites are a Category I(A) condition and must be reported to the local health authority or DHSS within 24 hours.
- DHSS says every bite report needs a Disease Case Report and an Animal Bite/Injury supplemental report.
- MDC says if you encounter wildlife that may be injured or truly orphaned, contact your local MDC office before taking any action.
- MDC says it is illegal to possess many wild animals without a valid state or federal permit.
- Jackson County says animal control in unincorporated county areas is provided by contract with Independence Animal Services, with the sheriff handling emergency callout hours.
- DHSS materials identify the Office of Veterinary Public Health as the state rabies consultation office.
Local animal control offices in Missouri
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of St. Louis Animal Care and Control | St. Louis | (314) 657-1500 | City animal control office handling stray animals, cruelty, injured animals, bites, dangerous animals, and related ordinance enforcement. |
| Kansas City Animal Services Jackson | Kansas City | Not published* | City Animal Services responds to stray or dangerous animals, investigates cruelty or neglect, and enforces local animal laws. |
| Jackson County Animal Control Jackson | Not published* | Not published* | For unincorporated Jackson County, the county contracts with Independence Animal Services; sheriff handles emergency callout hours. |
| City of Columbia Animal Control Boone | Columbia | 573-449-1888 | Handles bite reports and helps with rabies exposure assessment for Columbia and Boone County. |
| City of Saint Charles Animal Control Department St. Charles | Saint Charles | 636-949-3395 | Responsible for ordinance enforcement, abuse or neglect investigations, animal capture or impound, and bite investigations. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Report any mammal bite quickly to the local health authority or DHSS; Missouri’s rule is within 24 hours.
- Do not keep orphaned wildlife yourself; call a local MDC office first for direction.
- If you live in unincorporated Jackson County, use Independence Animal Services during regular hours and the sheriff after hours.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Missouri's population center, for comparison only):
- Kansas City, Kansas Animal Services, Kansas · about 142 miles
- Johnson County Department of Health and Environment - Rabies Exposures and Animal Bites, Kansas · about 142 miles
- Johnson County Sheriff's Office Patrol, Kansas · about 142 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Missouri Department of Conservation - Don't Adopt Wildlife
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Missouri page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.