Animal Control

The Animal Control Department has regular business hours Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.  During the summer months we occasionally patrol during the wee hours of the morning, evening hours and weekends. Animal Control is available to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have an off hours emergency please contact Harwich Police at 508-430-7541 for assistance.

Harwich Animal Control is proud to work within the Harwich Police Department.  Animal Control calls are answered through our Police dispatch and are dispatched directly by radio, or we are contacted by phone in the case of an emergency during our off hours. The Animal Control vehicle is part of the Police Department fleet and is equipped with the necessary tools to handle most animal related calls.

Some of the duties of Hawich Animal Control include:

  • Investigating complaints of neglect/cruelty against domestic or farm animals,
  • Investigating and enforcing on complaints of loose or barking dogs,
  • Investigating and enforcing on reported dog/animal bites,
  • Assisting sick or injured wildlife,
  • Investigating other animal related complaints or problems, and
  • Providing education and clinics through community events.

If you have found injured or ill wildlife during our off hours, please contact:

  • Birdsey Cape Wildlife Center in West Barnstable 508-362-0111
  • Wild Care Cape Cod in Eastham 508-240-2255 (they do not do any rabies vector species)
  • After Hours Wildlife Emergency 508-375-3700

Nuisance Wildlife:

If you have an issue with wildlife inside your home, attic, garage or other space (this does not include animals who are living in their natural environments outdoors). Please contact a licensed critter removal company.  We are happy to assist with a single animal who has gotten in some where they do not belong.  It is illegal to trap and/or relocate any wildlife.

Marine Animals:

If you have found a stranded, ill or injured marine mammal or turtle please contact:

  • IFAW 800-932-4329
  • IFAW Stranding Hotline 508-743-9548
  • Stranded Sea Turtles 508-349-2615
  • Entangled Sea Turtles or Whales 800-900-3622

Information on Bats: 

Have you found a bat in your house?  Was anyone sleeping in the room the bat was found including humans, cats, dogs or ferrets? If the answer is YES then the bat needs to be tested for rabies!  If possible, contain the bat to a room where there are no humans or animals present.  Bat bites are almost microscopic and very difficult to see and do not normally cause pain.  It is important to test for rabies if anyone was sleeping in the room or the animals had any interactions with the bat.  If you have further questions regarding whether the bat needs to be tested, please contact the Department of Agricultural Resources at 617-626-1786.  Please contact the Health Department for testing at 508-430-7509.  If there was no one sleeping in the room where the bat was found and there has been no interactions with pets or humans, then there is no need to test the bat and it can be released outdoors.

Dog Licensing Information: 

Dog licensing is done through the Town Clerks Office located inside the Harwich Town Hall.  Click the link below to print the dog licensing form. Please complete the form and bring in person or mail into the Town Clerks Office.  All dogs must be licensed in each town per MGL Ch. 140 Sec. 137 & 137A.  Licensing is from January 1st through January 31st and is good through December 31st each year.                                                                              

Animal Control can be reached through the Police Department 508-430-7541, or you can email Officer Harrington at: jharrington@harwich-ma.gov

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