1)   Where is the Animal Control Division Located?

The Animal Control Division is located in the Community Services Division of the Waltham Police Department,  155 Lexington St., Waltham, MA 02452.  You can contact Animal Control Officer Ann Campobasso at 781-314-3596.  

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2)   What are the hours of operation?

Animal Control Officer Ann Campobasso works Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM–3:00 PM.  If your call is an emergency, contact our dispatch center at 
781-893-3700.  Several police officers are trained as assistant Animal Control Officers and the police department is available 24 hours a day to handle 
these emergencies.

For non-emergencies you can leave a message for the Animal Control Officer at 781-314-3596 which will be answered during business hours.  

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3)   What should I do if I am missing my animal?

Call the Animal Control Officer at 781-314-3596 to report your animal missing and to check to see if your animal has been picked up.  During non-business hours, contact Waltham Police Department Operations at 781-314-3600 and inquire whether your animal has been found.  If not, ask for a police blotter item entry with a description of your pet and your contact information.  If you find your animal before we do, please contact Waltham Police Department Operations at 781-314-3600 to notify us that your pet has been found and to cancel the police blotter entry notifying officers to look for your pet.  If your animal has not been found, please be patient for we will continue looking for it.  Check with the Animal Control Officer at 781-314-3596 during business hours on the status of your lost pet.

The best way to ensure the safe return of your lost animal is to have a current city dog license and rabies tag on the animal.  In most cases, animals wearing tags can be returned to the owner instead of being impounded.  If no one is home, the officer will leave a note or a phone message advising the animal was picked up.  Please remember animals will sometimes lose their tags or have them removed by someone.  Even if your animal leaves home wearing a collar and tags, there is always a chance the collar may not be on when the animal is picked up.

Impounded dogs are held for ten (10) days when picked up.  The Animal Control officer will make every attempt to have the dog transferred to a shelter before the ten day limit or have the dog adopted out.  Dogs held after 10 days are euthanized.  

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4)   Why doesn’t Waltham Animal Control have a policy to take stray cats? 

Under Massachusetts General Laws, municipalities are only obligated to impound dogs and to hold them for ten (10) days.  Currently, there is no statutory obligation for municipalities to house cats.  The City of Waltham no longer operates an impoundment facility and has contracted out it’s impoundment with the Belmont Animal Hospital.  For housing stray cats the City of Waltham incurs the financial obligation of housing the felines.  In the best interest of placing cats in facilities that will actively attempt adopting them out we currently enlist the services of agencies such as The thecatconnection.org and The Charles River Feline Association.  

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5)   Where can I bring my injured animal for emergency treatment on a weekend or holiday?

The Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New England, 185 Bear Hill Rd., Waltham, Tel# 781-684-8387 handles pet emergency care seven days a week, 24 hours a day.  They accept walk-ins and phone appointments.  

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6)   I think I see a wild coyote and it looks like it is just standing there and not moving.  What should I do?

Chances are you are viewing a coyote decoy if it is present in the middle of a field or playground.  The City of Waltham Parks & Recreation Dept. owns several coyote decoys that are placed out on city parks and playgrounds to ward off nuisance Canada geese that soil the landscape with their droppings.  These lifelike coyote decoys are relocated often to maintain there preventative effectiveness.

It is in your best interest to not approach any wild animal especially wild coyotes that are frequently seen on the outskirts of the city.  These animals are usually quite timid being predominantly nocturnal, however any animal when cornered may bite or scratch as an instinctive reaction to defend itself.  Coyotes are known to contract rabies and people bitten or scratched from a wild coyote require emergency care.  Suspected rabies cases are serious medical issues as rabies is a life threatening illness if left untreated.  Medical care sought promptly after contact with suspected rabid animals can be treated successfully with a series of inoculations.  

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7)   What can I do about the dog next door that is left outside and continually barks?

Owners of dogs can be issued a violation notice with a $25.00 fine.  Second or subsequent offenses for excessive barking of their dog incur a $50.00 fine.  Some irresponsible dog owners deliberately place their dogs outside neglecting to bring them promptly back in.  These owners then leave for the day being unaware that their pets are barking and annoying their neighbors.  Dog owners who deliberately place their dogs outside to bark excessively for the purpose of annoying the public and disturbing the public decorum may face possible criminal sanctions and/or arrest plus impoundment of their animal.

Excessive barking should be reported to the police 
781-893-3700 who will investigate.  If this occurs during non-business hours the responding police officer will listen and if he hears the barking he will document it in a report and take what immediate action is necessary.  The Animal Control Officer may issue the dog owner a violation notice and she will give the owner guidance in curbing nuisance barking.  Subsequent complaints will be dealt with progressively stiffer penalties. 

Please check out A Guide for Owners in the Brochure section on the Animal Control Web-site which gives guidance to dog owners on dealing with problem barking.

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8)   What can I do about dog owners that allow their dog to mess on my lawn?

Owners of dogs that deposit excreta are required to pick up after their pet.  Violators can be issued a violation notice with a $25.00 fine.  Second or subsequent offenses incur a $50.00 fine.  Many pet owners need to be educated in the proper methods of picking up after their dog.  The Animal Control Officer patrols city parks and playgrounds and issues many warning notices that include instructions on picking up after your pet.  Please notify the Animal Control Officer of any complaints at 781-314-3596.

See Brochures – Dog Pooper-Scooper Ordinance

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9)   Where can I go for low cost spaying/neutering and rabies shots?

For low cost spaying/neutering for both cats and dogs contact Kitty Haven or Friends of Animals

Kitty Haven
P.O. Box 541522
 Waltham, MA 02554
Tel# 781-893-5963

Friends of Animals
Tel# 800-321-7387, 
e-mail: spay@friendsofanimals.org

For low cost vaccinations and rabies shots for both cats and dogs, Petco offers these services.

Petco
49 Linden St.
Waltham, MA 02452
Tel# 781-736-0200. 

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10)  What unusual wildlife has been seen in the city?

Mammals such as deer, foxes, coyotes, fisher cats, skunks, raccoons, and opossums are common.  Predators such as red tailed hawks and owls are also common.  Moose have been sighted in the city by the Cambridge Reservoir as well as a bald eagle that temporarily wintered on the Charles River last year.

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