State guide
Texas
Texas animal control is local, but state rabies law requires each county or municipality to have a local rabies control authority. Depending on the jurisdiction, that authority may be a county or municipal health officer, animal control officer, peace officer, or another entity designated by the local government.
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 local county or city government handles animal control and rabies enforcement through the local rabies control authority designated under Chapter 826.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (injured/orphaned wildlife); Texas Wildlife Services Program is identified by TPWD for nuisance-wildlife requests
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- A person who knows of an animal bite or scratch capable of transmitting rabies must report it to the local rabies control authority of the county or municipality involved.
- State rabies contact
- Texas Department of State Health Services — Zoonosis Control Branch
Official resources in Texas
Use this statute page for who may serve as the local rabies control authority and for bite-reporting duties.
This is the state rabies program page with public guidance and Zoonosis Control Branch contact information.
Use this Texas Parks and Wildlife page for injured or orphaned wildlife guidance and the statewide rehabber list by county.
This page says nuisance-wildlife requests are handled through the Texas Wildlife Services Program and gives general wildlife-help direction.
Use this official wildlife-damage page for nuisance-wildlife information by species.
Key facts for Texas
- Texas law says the local rabies control authority may be a county health officer, municipal health officer, animal control officer, peace officer, or another entity the local government considers appropriate.
- Texas law requires reporting an animal bite or scratch capable of transmitting rabies to the local rabies control authority.
- TPWD says if an animal is obviously injured, sick or orphaned, you may attempt to reach a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
- TPWD says the general public should not handle or attempt to transport injured, sick or orphaned wildlife.
- Houston says BARC is the state’s designated rabies control authority for Houston.
Local animal control offices in Texas
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Animal Services Dallas | Dallas | (214) 670-6800 | City animal services main location and adoption center with pet-support hours listed on the official page. |
| Animal Care Services Bexar | San Antonio | Not published* | San Antonio’s animal-services department; the page says animal-related issues inside city limits should go through 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000. |
| Austin Animal Services Travis | Austin | 512-974-2000 | City of Austin animal-services contact page for the municipal shelter and reclaim center. |
| Fort Worth Animal Care & Control Tarrant | Fort Worth | Not published* | Fort Worth’s animal care and control office; the page lists the Chuck Silcox Animal Care & Adoption Center. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- After a bite or rabies exposure, report it to your local rabies control authority or animal control and seek medical care promptly.
- For injured or orphaned wildlife, check TPWD’s rehabber list by county and nearby counties before moving the animal.
- For nuisance wildlife, start with TPWD’s wildlife-damage guidance and, where directed, contact the Texas Wildlife Services Program.
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 Texas's population center, for comparison only):
- Caddo Parish Department of Animal Services, Louisiana · about 232 miles
- Lawton Animal Welfare, Oklahoma · about 263 miles
- Norman Animal Welfare, Oklahoma · about 298 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Texas DSHS — Rabies
Website →Phone: (512) 776-7676 (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 Texas page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.