ACC-REQUEST: Loose Dog
Anyone can report an animal running at large within the corporate city limits of South Bend. South Bend Animal Care and Control will need to know where the animal is located, which direction it was last seen running in (if not able to confine), when it was last seen, if it is aggressive/injured/sick and a description of the animal. If the caller is able to safely confine the animal, it would be most helpful to the responding Animal Control Officer.
What is a loose dog?
A loose dog, is any dog running at large within the city limits without an owner nearby. There is no cost to report a loose dog.
Who can report a loose dog?
Anyone can report a dog running at large just call 311 for assistance.
When can I report a loose dog?
SBACC will dispatch an Animal Control Officer for any animal running at large Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 am and 5pm. SBACC will not dispatch and Animal Control Officer outside of these times unless the animal is posing a threat to public safety, i.e. attacking other animals or humans or is injured. If the animal is running at large between 5pm and 8:30 am and the animal is aggressive they need to call police dispatch at 235-9201.
How can I report a loose dog running in my neighborhood?
Reports of animals running loose can be made by contacting 311.
For 311:
SBACC will dispatch an officer if there is a dog running at large Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 5pm.
If the caller can safely contain the animal, please ask them to do so.
If the animal is safely contained please ask if the caller is able to bring the animal to the shelter. Depending on our volume of calls for service and the priority of the calls , sometimes it is quicker for the caller to bring the animal in versus waiting for an ACO to respond.
If the caller is able able safely contain the animal and unable to bring the animal to us, please note that the caller (or a competent adult) will have to physically be at their residence if the animal is contained on their property in order for us to take the animal off of the property.