Barking Dogs
Chico Animal Services is here to solve your barking dog complaint. We encourage you to work out any barking dog issues with your neighbors. A formal complaint should be filed only after your attempts to resolve the problem have been unsuccessful.
PLEASE NOTE: Not all barking is considered nuisance barking. A dog barking at someone coming onto private property where the dog is located such as a service person, a visitor or intruder, or a dog barking because they are being teased or provoked by someone (other than their owner), would not be considered nuisance barking.
Complaints about barking happening on private property (within an apartment complex or mobile home park) should be handled by the apartment or park manager.
PLEASE NOTE: Not all barking is considered nuisance barking. A dog barking at someone coming onto private property where the dog is located such as a service person, a visitor or intruder, or a dog barking because they are being teased or provoked by someone (other than their owner), would not be considered nuisance barking.
Complaints about barking happening on private property (within an apartment complex or mobile home park) should be handled by the apartment or park manager.
If you feel the barking is truly a nuisance, the first step is to contact the dog's owner. Call, visit or write a letter (posted or mailed) to your neighbor explaining that their dog is barking, and be as detailed as possible using the information from your log. Your neighbor may not even know their dog is barking and quite often this is all that is needed to resolve the issue. Note the day and time you called or visited and keep a copy of the letter you sent for your records.
If your attempts to resolve the barking dog issue directly with the dog owner have been unsuccessful, start a barking dog investigation by filling out a Barking Dog Complaint Form.
You must have the accurate address of where the dog resides on the complaint form. Be advised that once you have filed this form as a complainant, you may be asked to attend an administrative hearing if the person that was cited contests the citation. If you do not attend the hearing, the citation may be dismissed in the dog owner’s favor, ending the complaint process.
Once you complete and submit an Initial Barking Dog Complaint form, an Animal Control Officer will visit the dog owner to make them aware of the complaint. The owner will receive tips to reduce the barking and inform them of the consequences for not complying. Often this may be enough to resolve the barking dog issue.
At the time of Animal Control Initial visit, the owner will receive a Notice of Violation which will give them 7 days to address the barking issues. If after 7 days the barking has not subsided, a barking dog log must be completed by the complainant and sent to Animal Control for review. If that log shows nuisance barking an Administration Citation may be written to the dog owner. Please not that If the barking completely stops or does not happen for a period of time, Animal Control may request a brand-new barking dog investigation be started.
The fine for a violation of Title 7 of the Chico Municipal Code is $75.00 for the first offense, $150.00 for the second offense and $300.00 for the third offense. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
If you have questions about barking dogs, please contact Chico Animal Control at 530-897-4960.
Once you complete and submit an Initial Barking Dog Complaint form, an Animal Control Officer will visit the dog owner to make them aware of the complaint. The owner will receive tips to reduce the barking and inform them of the consequences for not complying. Often this may be enough to resolve the barking dog issue.
At the time of Animal Control Initial visit, the owner will receive a Notice of Violation which will give them 7 days to address the barking issues. If after 7 days the barking has not subsided, a barking dog log must be completed by the complainant and sent to Animal Control for review. If that log shows nuisance barking an Administration Citation may be written to the dog owner. Please not that If the barking completely stops or does not happen for a period of time, Animal Control may request a brand-new barking dog investigation be started.
The fine for a violation of Title 7 of the Chico Municipal Code is $75.00 for the first offense, $150.00 for the second offense and $300.00 for the third offense. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
If you have questions about barking dogs, please contact Chico Animal Control at 530-897-4960.
Rabies
What is Rabies?
- A virus that affects the brain/nervous system of all mammals
- Transmits when infected saliva enters through a break in the skin - bite or scratch, or fresh wound like a scrape or cut, or more rarely, contact with mucous membranes - eyes, nose, mouth.
- Cannot be passed through contact with urine, feces, or blood of infected animal
- Can incubate anywhere from 10 days to more than a year
- Over 99% fatal once symptoms appear
- Skunks and Bats are the most common carriers of Rabies in California.
- Bats are the primary source of Rabies in Butte County.
Preventing Rabies
- Keep Rabies vaccinations current for all dogs and cats, even if they don't go outside.
- Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
- Report all animal bites to Animal Control.
For more information about Rabies, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Wildlife
One of the great things about Chico is the diverse wildlife living in and around the community, including squirrels, bats, raccoons, opossums, skunks, snakes, deer, coyotes, and even an occasional mountain lion or bear!
Since wild animals can pose a safety as well as health risk, it's best to admire them from a safe distance, and never try to touch or handle them.
Chico Animal Services does not provide wildlife trapping or removal. For comprehensive information about how to humanely deal with wildlife issues, including animals that have accidentally gotten into your home, please see the link to the Humane Society of the United States in the Resources below. You can also get information there on finding a wildlife removal service that is humane and effective.
Chico Animal Services believes that most wildlife issues can be resolved using non-lethal methods, and encourages people to coexist with wildlife when at all possible. Just removing an offending animal does not address the underlying issues, and will leave a void that another animal will fill. Eliminating food sources and places for wildlife to live are the best ways to prevent wildlife from becoming a nuisance around your home. Some ways to do this are:
Since wild animals can pose a safety as well as health risk, it's best to admire them from a safe distance, and never try to touch or handle them.
Chico Animal Services does not provide wildlife trapping or removal. For comprehensive information about how to humanely deal with wildlife issues, including animals that have accidentally gotten into your home, please see the link to the Humane Society of the United States in the Resources below. You can also get information there on finding a wildlife removal service that is humane and effective.
Chico Animal Services believes that most wildlife issues can be resolved using non-lethal methods, and encourages people to coexist with wildlife when at all possible. Just removing an offending animal does not address the underlying issues, and will leave a void that another animal will fill. Eliminating food sources and places for wildlife to live are the best ways to prevent wildlife from becoming a nuisance around your home. Some ways to do this are:
- Feeding pets indoors only,
- Keeping garbage cans tightly covered,
- Keeping crawl spaces and attic vents secured,
- Keeping trees trimmed away from your home to prevent roof/attic access.
Fee Schedule
Under Construction - Information will be added soon!
Animal Intake & Outcome
Under Construction - Information will be added soon.
Rehoming a Pet
Under Construction - Information will be added soon.
