Animal Control

Animal Control can help with sick or injured wildlife, dogs running at large, potentially rabid animals, capturing a runaway pet who is eluding its owner, and other urgent situations. If you need Animal Control, you can call the Maplewood Health Department at (973) 762-8120, x2002 during office hours (9am - 4:30pm). You can also always call the Maplewood Police Department's non-emergency number at (973) 762-3400. Either department can take the information and will then contact Animal Control as needed.

Maplewood's Animal Control is contracted through Animal Control Services. You can contact them directly by either calling (908) 722-1271 or emailing animalcontrolsolutionsmain@gmail.com.

Under state law, Animal Control is NOT responsible for squirrels, skunks, raccoons, groundhogs, live and uninjured deer, or other healthy animals outdoors considered to be "Nuisance Wildlife." Please see our Animals and Wildlife page for useful references.

The Health Department's Pet Ownership and Animal Control brochure provides a detailed overview of our animal related regulations and services. 

Maplewood's Leashing Ordinance can be found here. The Health Department encourages everyone to leash their dogs especially due to the fact there there has been an increase in dog bites in recent year. The Board of Health Presentation on those statistics can be found here. One of the many reasons we require licensing your pets is due to bite incidents so the town is able to confirm that your pet is vaccinated for rabies. 

Dead Animals 

For dead animals that are found on PUBLIC property please contact the Health Department during business hours and we will inform our contracted service. This includes dead deer found in the road, in parks, etc. Small dead animals found on PRIVATE property must be removed at the expense of the homeowner. You can dispose of a small dead animal by placing it in a sealed heavy-duty garbage bag and setting it out for collection with your household trash. If you choose not to dispose of it in this manner you can contact animal removal services at your expense. 

Animal Control does not handle dead deer on private property. If you prefer not to move the deer yourself, here is a list of organizations you can call. 

Feral Cats

Advice on how to keep them out of your yard can be found here.  According to Ordinance 113-31.2: It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally provide food, water or other forms of sustenance to a feral cat or feral cat colony. If you have a cat in your backyard and care (provide food, water, other forms of sustenance, or shelter) for them they must be registered and licensed with the township annually. This means you must provide medical care for them.

Left unaltered, free-roaming cats continue to reproduce creating more homeless kittens. Once spayed/neutered and eartipped, these community cats can remain where they are and live out their lives as healthy cats without adding to the homeless cat population. Please see our list of Trap-Neuter-Release locations for more information.

You can also contact ACS, for help with trapping and releasing feral cats. Though, if they are on private property this will come at the owner's expense. 

Pet Support

St. Hubert’s continues to provide Pet Support Services for low-income residents and those in crisis situations. This includes a pet food bank, medical assistance, temporary crisis shelter, and safe haven, among other programs. For more information email pethelp@sthuberts.org or call 973-377-2295.

Pet Vaccines 

If you are in need of free or low cost vaccinations for your pet, Associated Humane Societies in Newark or People for Animals may be able to help.

 Millburn Pet Smart partners with ShotVet to offer affordable vaccinations. These occur most Saturdays from 4:30-5:30 at the Millburn Pet Smart location. This is the link to schedule.

Surrendering an Animal

Residents who want to surrender an animal, including a stray, are asked to contact local shelters directly. These include the Associated Humane Society of Newark, the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, and St. Hubert's. Please note that we provide those names for information purposes only.

Rodent Problem? 

Seal up! Trap up! Clean up! If you suspect that you may have a rodent problem there are a few ways to work towards stopping the invasion. The first recommended way is sealing up holes and burrows that rats may use to live in or infiltrate your home. After this it is recommended that you set up traps around where the rats most commonly frequent. The last thing to do is clean up. Rats are attracted to food sources and by cleaning up the rats will have less available food and therefore move on from your property. For more information look at this packet on preventing rodent infiltration in your home. 

NJ Health Department Information

The State of NJ provides information and resources regarding Animal Population Control. Please call before visiting any of the locations as details are subject to change.