Damaging Wildlife

Live Trap Lease Guidelines

Lost Dogs/Cats

Tips for Preventing and Avoiding Dog Bites

Procedures Following an Animal Bite

Damaging Wildlife

When responding to a damaging wildlife call, such as opposums, squirrels, raccoons, woodchucks, etc., Animal Control may issue a live trap to the homeowner to secure the animal. When the animal is secured, Animal Control will remove the animal and transport it to another location in the county.

NOTE: Please do not release any captured wildlife in the Suarez Woods/Nature Center area without first receiving authorization from the City's Naturalist. Unknown wildlife released into this area may be diseased, ill-tempered or incompatible with existing wildlife and will create a hazardous situation for other wildlife or humans.

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Live Trap Lease Guidelines

1. Place trap on concrete or wood. Do not place trap directly on ground.
2. Trap should not be placed in garage or outbuilding rafters.
3. Never put trap on the roof of any building.
4. Protect any animal in trap from sun, heat/cold or starvation. Provide water for the animal, if needed. Residents will be liable for animal cruelty charges if this guideline is not followed.
5. Any nursing female animal trapped without its young will be released at the site.
6. Live traps will be issued on a 7-calendar day basis only.
7. Have trap accessible for pick-up at the end of the lease period, which is the date on the top left-hand corner of lease agreement.
8. Clean out any bait or debris from empty trap before it is picked up. Any debris remaining in the trap will be left at your residence for your disposal.
9. Trap pick-up hours are 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

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Lost Dogs/Cats

Animal Control takes all strays to the Oakland County Animal Shelter in Pontiac, 248-391-4103. If animal is licensed, owner will be notified that pet has been found.

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Tips for Preventing and Avoiding Dog Bites

• Spay or neuter your dog. Dogs who have not been spayed or neutered are three times more likely to bite than are dogs who have been spayed or neutered.
• Train and socialize your dog so that he/she is comfortable being around people, including friends, neighbors and children.
• If you don't know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious. When an unfamiliar person comes to the door, be sure to safely restrain your dog in another room before opening the door.
• Don't pet a dog, even your own, without letting him see and sniff you first.
• Don't disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
• If a dog attacks, you may be able to decrease injury by "feeding" him your jacket, purse, bicycle or anything else that can serve as a barrier between you and the dog.

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Procedures Following an Animal Bite

If your animal has bitten a human being:

1. Following the bite, the animal must be quarantined for 10 days by one of the following methods:
   

a. The Animal Control officer may, at his discretion, quarantine the animal at the Oakland County Animal Shelter with the owner responsible for the quarantine fee; or,

b. The owner can have the animal quarantined at his own expense at a veterinary clinic or at a licensed and approved animal kennel; or,

c. The animal may be confined to the owner's premises in a fenced-in yard or pen, in the owner's home, or on a chain of sufficient strength to contain the animal. It shall be the decision of the Animal Control Officer as to which of the above methods shall be followed, and in any case, the animal is to be kept from having any direct contact with any other animal or with any persons other than the owner and his family.

2. In case the animal has not been vaccinated for rabies, you must wait for 10 days (the quarantine period) before a vaccination can be given. If an animal is taken to a veterinarian for any reason during the quarantine period, he/she is to be advised that the animal in quarantine and the Animal Control Officer must be advised of any treatment given.

3. If you observe during the quarantine period that the animal is getting ill (upset stomach, paralysis, difficulty in breathing, etc.), or that there seems to be a change in its usual disposition (becomes highly excitable, unusually quiet, etc.), call the Madison Heights Police Department immediately. If the animal dies, keep it cool (refrigerated if possible) and call the Madison Heights Police Department immediately. An animal that dies while in quarantine will be taken to a laboratory for testing to determine if the rabies virus is present. This expense is the responsibility of the owner.

4. IMPORTANT -- Do not, under any circumstances, before the 10-day quarantine period has passed:

a. Kill the animal,
b. Dispose of it in any manner, or
c. Remove from premises without first obtaining the permission of the animal control officer.

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