Animal Control

The mission of the animal control department is to provide responsive, efficient, and high quality animal care and control services that preserve and protect the health, safety and welfare of people and animals.

hours of operation

Animal Control operates during Town Hall’s regular business hours.

After normal business hours, residents may contact the on-call Animal Control Officer for animal related emergencies through Auburn Police Dispatch at 508-832-7777.

Animal related emergencies include public safety or public health concerns such as animal bite incidents, potential exposures to rabies through direct contact with wildlife, an injured domestic or wild animal, captured domestic animals with no known owner, domestic animals in distress, and urgent domestic animal welfare concerns.

Non-emergency animal related calls or complaints are handled during regular business hours.

The dog licensing payment portal is currently undergoing maintenance. If you have any questions regarding how to license your dog, please contact the Town Clerk's Office at 508-832-7701. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Links

  1. Dog License Online Application
  2. Dog License Application (PDF)
  3. Dog License Search
  4. Repot a Lost Pet

Dog Licensing

In accordance with the provisions of §137, 137A of Chapter 140 of the General Laws the Town of Auburn issues dog licenses.

The licensing application period for dog and kennel licenses in Auburn runs from January 1st until March 31st; though applications are always accepted, even after that period ends. There is still time to license your dogs before late fees or penalties set in! So If you haven’t done so already, you can license your dog at the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall during normal business hours (Monday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m, Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.), send in your license application and payment through the mail, or pay online.

Fees

The current licensing fees are as follows:

  • $15 for spayed/neutered dogs
  • $20 for intact male/female dogs

Any person 70 years of age or older, upon proof of age and ownership shall be exempt from the annual fee one dog, per household.

Submit Licenses

Licenses are due on April 1st of each year. The Census forms are sent out in January. On the bottom of the census form is a dog license form. To license by mail, fill out the form and enclose a check to cover the fee, with a stamped addressed envelope.

Town bylaw imposes a late fee of $10.00 per dog if not licensed by April 30th of the current year. A late fee of $30.00 per dog if not licensed in a calendar year. If you would prefer, you can license online. (This is a new licensing system. If you experience any issues, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 508-832-7701 so we can get those resolved.) If you have licensed a dog in the past you will be able to license online, provided your rabies is up to date.

Kennel Licenses

Kennel licenses are issued when the location meets the requirements of the bylaws and is approved by the Animal Control Officer for the Town of Auburn.

Additional Information

Remember, if your dog happens to get loose or go missing, you are much more likely to be reunited if your dog is wearing a collar with its up-to-date license tag. An owned, loose dog without a collar, tags, or microchip can be almost indistinguishable from a stray dog. Help us help you bring your pets home!

If you have any questions, please contact Animal Control at 508-832-7703 or the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-832-7701.

Top Reasons to License Your Dog

  • It greatly improves your chance of getting your dog back if it goes missing.
  • It lets people know your dog is up to date on its rabies vaccine.
  • It’s the law!

WINTER SAFETY TIPS    

Dog Wearing Booties in Snow

Did you know that common ice melt or salt can be harmful to your pets? The most common ingredients in these products are typically sodium chloride or calcium chloride, which can cause irritation and possible chemical burns to the sensitive paw pads on your pet’s feet. Also, ingestion of these ice melts when your pets lick their paws can also cause gastrointestinal upset. 

PET SAFE ICE MELTER

Protecting your pet’s paws during the winter months can be easy though! There are a number of pet safe ice melter products available at all major retailers that will take the worry away from your pets being exposed to harmful products while at home. 

PROTECTIVE MEASURES

For those winter walks and excursions when you are away from home and not sure what products they have come in contact with, make sure to wipe their paws with a dampened cloth when you get home to remove any chemicals that could have built up. If your pet allows it, water-proof booties as well as paw-protective balms and waxes are also sold by all major pet retailers and add a protective barrier between your pets and harmful products.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you have any winter pet-safety questions, please feel free to Contact Animal Control.