State guide
Nebraska
Nebraska law allows counties, cities, and villages to designate an animal control authority or animal control officer. In practice, larger cities publish their own animal-control pages, while the Omaha/Sarpy area commonly uses the Nebraska Humane Society under local arrangements.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually city or county animal control designated by the local government; in larger metro areas this may be a city division or a contracted humane society, and counties may also designate local law enforcement.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Nebraska DHHS guidance says animal bite or exposure reports require prompt investigation by the local health department; local animal control may also be involved for domestic-animal management.
- State rabies contact
- Rabies Surveillance Program, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Official resources in Nebraska
Nebraska DHHS Rabies
State rabies page with public-health guidance and the Rabies Surveillance Program contact.
Nebraska Rabies Investigation Guidelines
State guidance for investigating bites, exposures, and rabies-positive animals.
Nebraska Game and Parks Captive Wildlife Permit
State wildlife page that tells residents what to do with injured or orphaned wild animals.
Nebraska Game and Parks Contact Us
State contact page for conservation officers and Game and Parks offices.
Key facts for Nebraska
- Nebraska statute defines an animal control authority as an entity authorized to enforce county, city, village, or state animal-control laws.
- Nebraska statute defines an animal control officer as a person authorized by a city, village, or county to enforce animal-control laws.
- Nebraska DHHS says rabies is still a public-health problem in Nebraska.
- Nebraska DHHS says any bite or exposure report and all positive or unsuitable rabies laboratory reports require prompt investigation by the local health department.
- Nebraska Game and Parks says if a wild animal appears to need help, leave it where it is and contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or your local conservation officer.
- Lincoln Animal Control says it enforces animal ordinances and handles rabies prevention, animal bites, stray animals, cruelty complaints, injured animals, and wildlife removal.
Local animal control offices in Nebraska
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Animal Control Lancaster | Lincoln | Not published* | Enforces Lincoln animal ordinances and handles animal bites, rabies prevention, stray animals, cruelty complaints, injured animals, and wildlife removal. |
| Nebraska Humane Society animal control service area for Omaha and Sarpy County Douglas | Omaha | Not published* | Nebraska Humane Society states it acts as the animal control and animal licensing agency for the City of Omaha, Sarpy County, and Sarpy County municipalities. |
| City of Bellevue Pet Licensing & Animal Control Sarpy | Bellevue | 402-293-3000 | City resident page routes pet licensing and animal control to the community’s official service link. |
| Grand Island Police Department Hall | Grand Island | Not published* | City police page and city notice direct non-urgent animal issues to the non-emergency line; urgent bites or attacks should go through 911. |
| Sarpy County Animal Control Regulations Sarpy | Not published* | Not published* | County regulations page provides the official county animal-control regulations reference. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If a domestic animal bites a person, contact your local health department or local animal-control agency promptly so post-incident rabies management can start.
- If you find injured or orphaned wildlife, do not keep it; leave it where it is and contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or a Nebraska conservation officer.
- In Lincoln, use 402-441-7900 for dispatch and animal-control assistance; other Nebraska communities may route animal complaints through city police, county law enforcement, or a contracted humane agency.
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 Nebraska's population center, for comparison only):
- Animal Control, South Dakota · about 166 miles
- City of Lawrence Animal Control, Kansas · about 186 miles
- Douglas County animal control code / Lawrence service area, Kansas · about 186 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Nebraska DHHS Rabies
Website →Phone: (402) 471-2937 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Nebraska page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.