State guide
New York
New York’s routine animal control is mostly local and municipal rather than sheriff-based statewide: state agriculture guidance says each municipality and city, and each village that issues dog licenses, must appoint a dog control officer, while counties may appoint one. Wildlife issues are handled through DEC, which publishes both a young-wildlife help page and a statewide wildlife rehabilitator contact list.
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
- Animal control is usually local municipal dog control in New York: municipalities and cities must appoint dog control officers, villages issuing dog licenses must do so, and counties may appoint officers too.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Statewide, animal bites are reported to the county health department; in New York City, the Health Code requires animal bites to be reported to the Health Department within 24 hours.
- State rabies contact
- Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Zoonoses Program, New York State Department of Health
Official resources in New York
DEC’s official wildlife-rehabilitation page linking to care guidance and the statewide rehabilitator contact list.
State public guidance on reporting bites and rabies exposure.
Official county health department rabies contact page for treatment authorization and reporting.
Regulatory text on reporting suspected rabid animals and human exposures.
Key facts for New York
- NY agriculture guidance says each municipality and city, and each village issuing dog licenses, shall appoint one or more dog control officers.
- NYSDOH says animal bites should be reported to the county health department.
- NYSDEC’s wildlife rehabilitator page links both to care guidance for young wildlife and to a statewide rehabilitator contact list.
- The state sanitary code requires health care providers to report rabies prophylaxis initiation and pertinent bite facts to the local health authority.
- NYSDOH says each county outside New York City must authorize rabies treatment for exposed people within that county.
- NYSDOH zoonoses pages use bcdc@health.ny.gov for questions or comments.
Local animal control offices in New York
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYC Health - Report an Animal Bite / Veterinary Public Health Services New York City | New York | Not published* | NYC’s official bite-reporting channel; Veterinary Public Health Services coordinates follow-up and rabies risk assessment. |
| NYC Health Animal Bite Unit New York City | New York | 646-364-1799 | Official contact for suspect rabid animals or assistance with pets exposed to rabies. |
| Nassau County Department of Health - Rabies & Animal Bites Nassau | Mineola | 516-227-9663 | Investigates all reported animal bites; after-hours bite reporting is 516-742-6154. |
| Suffolk County Department of Health Services - Report Animal Bites Suffolk | Yaphank | (631) 854-0333 | County rabies and bite reporting page; outside normal business hours lists (631) 852-4820. |
| City of Buffalo Animal Shelter Erie | Buffalo | 716-851-5694 or 716-851-4265 | City shelter page with public hours, address, and adoption link. |
| Animal Control Westchester | Yonkers | 914-377-6436 | Yonkers parks department says Animal Control is one of its divisions. |
| Dog Control Onondaga | Syracuse | Not published* | City guide and police directory list Dog Control under Syracuse Police. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- After any bite, wash the wound, get medical care, and call your county health department right away.
- For orphaned or injured wildlife, use DEC’s statewide rehabilitator list instead of keeping the animal yourself.
- If you are in New York City, report bites to NYC Health and use 311 for city help with stray, injured, or abandoned animals.
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 New York's population center, for comparison only):
- Animal Control, New Jersey · about 46 miles
- Bergen County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center, New Jersey · about 46 miles
- Scranton Police Department - Animal Control Officers, Pennsylvania · about 56 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.NYSDOH Rabies County Contacts
Website →Phone: (716) 373-8050 (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 New York page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.