State guide
West Virginia
West Virginia assigns core dog and cat enforcement to county sheriffs under the state rabies and animal-bite protocol, though some larger cities also route local complaints to city or contracted animal-control programs. Wildlife nuisance issues are handled through the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, while rabies and bite follow-up runs through the West Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services.
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 the county sheriff or a humane officer working with the sheriff handles county-level animal control in West Virginia, while some cities use their own or contracted animal-control services.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Animal bites and other potential rabies exposures should be reported to the local health department within 24 hours.
- State rabies contact
- West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology & Prevention Services
Official resources in West Virginia
State public-health page for rabies basics, bite response, and links for community, provider, and local health department guidance.
Explains West Virginia bite reporting timelines and confinement rules used by providers and local health departments.
Official WVDNR help page for nuisance wildlife, permits, district-office help, and the licensed Wildlife Damage Control Agent list.
Official bird page with instructions for injured or baby birds and a referral to wildlife rehabilitators.
Local-health-department rabies reporting and case-management portal, including protocol and forms.
Key facts for West Virginia
- The county sheriff is responsible for enforcing local and state animal restraint rules for dogs and cats within county jurisdictional boundaries.
- Animal bites and other potential rabies exposures should be reported to the local health department within 24 hours.
- For dog, cat, and ferret bites, the animal is required by law to be confined for 10 days.
- WVDNR says nuisance wildlife may require a Wildlife Damage Permit, and moving captured wildlife to another location is illegal.
- WVDNR’s nuisance-wildlife page links the current licensed Wildlife Damage Control Agent list for paid nuisance-wildlife work.
- OEPS says most West Virginia rabies cases occur in wild animals such as raccoons and skunks.
Local animal control offices in West Virginia
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County Animal Control Berkeley | Martinsburg | 304-263-4729 | Animal-control division overseen by the Berkeley County Sheriff; the sheriff page says it investigates complaints of animal cruelty and inhumane treatment. |
| Kanawha County Sheriff's Office Kanawha | Charleston | Not published* | County sheriff office; West Virginia’s state rabies protocol assigns county sheriffs enforcement responsibility for dog and cat restraint and endangerment rules. |
| City of Morgantown Animal Control Monongalia | Morgantown | 304-291-7267 | City animal control is contracted through the County K-9 Adoption Center. |
| Humane Officer (Sheriff-Deputy) Monongalia | Morgantown | 304-296-6424 | Listed by the City of Morgantown for humane-officer help alongside city animal-control contacts. |
| Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter Cabell | Huntington | 304.696.5551 | The City of Huntington directs all city animal complaints to this shelter; emergency situations involving vicious animals or sick or injured livestock or wildlife go to 911. |
* 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 dog, cat, or ferret bites someone, contact your local health department quickly so the 10-day confinement process can start.
- For raccoons, skunks, bats, and other nuisance wildlife, check WVDNR first before trapping, relocating, or killing the animal.
- If you are in a city like Huntington or Morgantown, use the city or contracted local animal-control contact first for stray domestic 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 West Virginia's population center, for comparison only):
- Pittsburgh Bureau of Animal Care & Control, Pennsylvania · about 117 miles
- Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center, Ohio · about 150 miles
- Columbus Public Health - Animal Bites, Dangerous Animals & Rabies Control, Ohio · about 150 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.WVDNR Nuisance Wildlife
Website →Phone: (304) 558-6200 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: County Commissioners' Association of West Virginia →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the West Virginia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.