Animal Control

Article Date:

February 16, 2008

Please don't think of your city's animal control as the dogcatcher who takes mangy dogs to a filthy, overcrowded pound where they are always put to sleep. Today's animal control departments are made up of professional public servants who dedicate themselves to helping animals, pet owners, and the community. Animals impounded by animal control are kept in safe, clean facilities. State law requires them to be held a minimum of 5 days, although some departments will keep animals longer. If animals are not reclaimed by their owners, animal control may place them for adoption, utilize adoption-resource groups, or transfer them to other shelters, such as Minnesota Valley Humane Society (MVHS). Unfortunately, many animals are euthanized after being impounded by animal control, but the people working in these departments work hard to do what is best for every animal in their care.

Unlike Minnesota Valley Humane Society, animal control departments are funded by your tax dollars.

Most urban and suburban cities have animal control departments that can the accessed through the following numbers, or through the local police. Rural residents should contact their sheriff's department for animal services.

Animal Control

CityPhone Number

Apple Valley
952-953-2700

Bloomington
952-563-4942

Burnsville
952-894-3647

Cottage Grove
651-458-2850

Eagan
651-675-5700

Farmington
952-894-9065

Hastings
651-480-2300

Inver Grove Heights
651-450-2525

Lakeville
952-985-4800

Mendota Heights
651-452-1366

Minneapolis
612-348-4250

North St. Paul
651-747-2406

Washington County (Newport)
651-439-9381

Prior Lake
952-445-1411

Richfield
612-861-9800

Rosemount
651-423-4491

Scott County (Savage)
952-894-9065

Shakopee
952-455-1411

South St. Paul
651-554-3300

St. Paul
651-266-1100

Minnesota Valley Humane Society cannot accept any stray dogs from the public!
MVHS will only accept stray cats from cities that have no applicable ordinance.
We will accept stray cats that were found the following cities:
Hastings, Farmington, Inver Grove Heights, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Mendota, South St. Paul
In order to surrender a stray animal to Minnesota Valley Humane Society (other than a cat from the above-mentioned cities), you must have held the animal in your custody for a minimum of 10 days.
Every humane society and shelter operates independently, and has different regulations regarding stray animals. Please contact them individually to learn about their policies regarding stray animals.

OrganizationPhone Number

Animal Humane Society (Golden Valley)
763-522-4325

Humane Society for Companion Animals (St. Paul)
651-645-7387

Humane Society for Companion Animals (Woodbury)
651-730-6008

Scott County Humane Society (Chaska)
952-368-3553

Rice County Humane Society (Faribault)
507-334-7117

Northwoods (Forest Lake)
651-982-0240

2nd Chance
651-771-5662

Blue Earth-Nicollet County Humane Society
507-625-6373