Most complaints and concerns about domestic and wild animals in Houston are handled by the BARC Animal Shelter at 3200 Carr Street, Houston, TX.
Outside of Houston city limits, there are multiple Harris County Area Animal Control Agencies equipped to handle animal-related matters. You can find your local agency on the Houston Humane Society website.
The most important Houston area animal control numbers you need to know are:
- 311: The hotline for most animal complaints
- (713) 884-3131: The Houston Police Animal Control phone number
- 911: The number to call in a life-threatening emergency situation
- (713) 468-8972: The Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center emergency care and rehabilitation helpline
When To Use Houston Area Animal Control Numbers
Here is when you should use each of these Houston area animal control numbers. 311 is the main hotline number that you will use in most situations. The Houston Police Animal Control phone number should be used to report animal abuse.
Call 311 To….
- Report a stray dog
- Report a dangerous dog
- Report a wild animal in a dangerous location
- Call for help if a wild animal is inside your home
- Report an animal attack (in a non-emergency situation)
- Issue a complaint to Animal Control
- Learn more about the services Animal Control provides
- Speak with a customer service agent
All animal bites, whether inflicted by a pet or wild animal, should be reported to Animal Control.
Please note that if you see a wild animal in your yard or on your property grounds (not inside your home), you do not need to call Animal Control.
Leave the animal alone and allow it to move away on its own. Do not attempt to touch, capture, or move the animal yourself. Keep pets and children in a safe place. You only need to call 311 if the animal appears to be vicious, aggravated, attempting to attack, or refusing to move away from the premises after an extended period. Call the Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center (number below) if the animal is hurt.
Call the Houston Police Department at (713) 884-3131 To…
- Report animal abuse
- Report dog fighting or other animal fighting rings
- Report any other type of known or suspected animal mistreatment
Call 911 To…
- Summon an emergency medical team if a person’s life is in danger
Call the Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center at (713) 468-8972 To…
- Get help for an injured, ill, or orphaned wild animal
What Should I Do if I’m Bitten by a Dog or Other Animal in Houston?
Being attacked by a dog or other animal is a traumatizing experience, no matter the circumstances. But the initial terror of the experience can become much worse if the situation is not handled properly—and the bite becomes infected, you develop a serious illness, or the animal is left to attack another person or child.
Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control and other animal control experts recommend taking the below steps any time you suffer or witness an animal attack:
- Identify the animal and make a note so you can notify authorities quickly of its location
- Report the attack to 311
- If attacked by a dog, try to identify the owner and take down their name and contact info
- Take pictures of the animal and the injuries if possible
- If bitten by a potentially venomous snake, call the Poison Control hotline at 1-800-222-1222
- Wash the wound immediately and apply appropriate first aid measures
- Call 911 if the wound is life-threatening, or seek medical attention right away
- Schedule a follow-up appointment with your primary care physician to test for disease and parasites
One of the most serious concerns associated with an animal bite is rabies. Under Texas Law, every city and county in the state must designate a Local Rabies Control Authority (LRCA). This entity is responsible for enforcing state rabies laws, investigating animal bite cases, and managing animals that have attacked humans.
After you or someone you know was bitten by a dog or another animal, you must report the bite to the Houston area Animal Control authorities (by calling 311) so that the LRCA can begin investigations.
If pet owner negligence caused you, your child, or another loved one to suffer a preventable canine attack, a Houston area dog bite lawyer can help you take legal action to protect your rights and secure compensation for medical care.
Encountering Wild Animals in the Houston Area
In a city of over two million humans, we sometimes forget just how many wild creatures also make their homes right outside our back doors.
Giving wild animals the respect and space they deserve is critical to both our safety and theirs. Interfering with wildlife can disrupt natural habitats and disturb behavior patterns, putting the wild animals themselves, as well as nearby humans and pets, at risk.
There is no animal that does not have the potential to become aggressive if it feels threatened. This is especially important to remember if you have pets or small children too young to understand the dangers of approaching a wild animal.
Diseases are also a serious concern. When you encounter a wild animal, you have no idea if it is carrying a serious or potentially fatal condition like:
- Rabies
- Internal parasites like worms, flukes, or protozoa
- External parasites like ticks, which can carry tick-borne illnesses
- Salmonella
- Bacteria that can cause serious infections
- Tuberculosis
- Other contagious illnesses
The City of Houston BARC Animal Shelter lists bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes as the top 5 animals of highest rabies concern.
Other animals you may encounter in the Houston area, according to BARC, include:
- Bobcats
- Deer
- Snakes
- Reptiles
- Turtles
- Alligators
- Opossums
- Armadillos
- Rats
- Mice
- Squirrels
Help for Those Hurt by Animals Because of Human Negligence
Animal owners, and dog owners in particular, have a legal duty to protect others from harm their animal can cause. The sad truth is that most animal attacks happen because a human was negligent.
Wild animal attacks are relatively rare, but dog bites happen at an alarming rate in many areas of the country—Houston more than most.
In the past six years, Houston has been ranked five times as the #1 worst city in the nation for dog attacks against postal workers.
And it isn’t just postal workers who are at risk of suffering a serious or even fatal dog bite. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 4.5 million people who are attacked by dogs every year. More than half of these victims are children.
If you or someone you love was attacked by a dog or another animal in the Houston area, we at Barrera Law Group LLC can evaluate your case for free.
Our experienced attorneys will examine the circumstances of the attack to see if the actions of a negligent party led to your injuries. If so, we can help you hold that party accountable and recover the compensation to which you are legally entitled under Texas law.
To learn more, please call our Houston, TX personal injury office or fill out the intake form on our website.