Animal Control & Adoption Center

Animal registration fees are used to provide for the public safety as well as housing of stray and unwanted animals. These vital animal control services cannot be adequately provided without these funds.

Every owner of a dog and cat between 3 and 4 months of age should have each dog and cat inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Every owner of a dog and cat 4 months or more of age is required by law to have each dog and cat inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Every dog and cat shall have a second rabies vaccination within one year of the first and every subsequent year.

The Department of Public Health shall collect a registration fee for dogs and cats. Dogs and cats under the age of one year shall be exempted from paying the higher fee in order to allow owners an adequate period of time in which to have their animal spayed or neutered. Proof for spayed and neutered dogs and cats over one year of age must be furnished upon registration in order to pay the reduced fee.

If the animal has a rabies tag, you can call the Sangamon County Animal Control Center at 217-535-3065 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30PM Monday through Friday, and 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM on Saturdays. They can identify the owner and can assist in locating the owner.

You may also call the Animal Protective League (APL) of Springfield and Sangamon County at 217-544-7387. You can leave a message if you call during non-business hours. They also have access to rabies tag information.

1. Take pictures of your pet that will allow identification (scars, unique markings, etc.)
2. Do not leave your pet unattended at home for long periods.
3. Microchip your pet so there is a permanent identification feature that can not be removed.
4. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your pet if you’re going to be gone for long periods of time.

The Sangamon County Animal Control & Adoption Center (SCACAC) has as its mission to minimize the number of homeless and abandoned animals that come into our Center and to save all healthy and treatable animals as our resources allow. We are also dedicated to providing transparency and accountability to our community by sharing data regarding the animals that come through our Center. As part of that commitment, SCACAC will provide quarterly statistics on our website.

We currently utilize a statistical measurement called the Asilomar Live Release Rate to determine the actual percentage of dogs and cats that leave our facility alive through adoption, return to owner, or transfer.

1) Intakes include all of the categories of intake for dog, cat, other and wildlife during a particular time period: Stray animals (“Stray”); owner surrendered pets (“Owner Surrender”); animals confiscated for abuse, neglect or abandonment (“Confiscate”); animals other than dog/cats picked up by our officers (“Wildlife”); disposal requests for deceased animals; (“Disposal Request”); euthanasia requests by owners (“Euthanasia Request”); adoption returns (“Returns”), which are animals returned within 14 days of adoption.

2) Outcomes include all of the categories for the eventual disposition for a particular period of time for dogs, cats, other animals, and wildlife that have come into the shelter. These categories are as follows: adopted animals (“Adoption”); animals that have been returned to their owner after straying from home, or after having been confiscated or impounded (“Returned to Owner”); animals transferred to our rescue partners (“Transfer”); animals that were euthanized at the request of their owners (“Euthanasia by Request”); animals that were euthanized for health, behavior, and/or capacity for care (“Other Euthanasia”); animals that have died after they entered the shelter (“Died in Care”); animals that were dead on arrival or who died enroute (“Dead on Arrival”); and animals that were disposed of because they were dead prior to entering the shelter or in the field (“Disposals”).

3) The Asilomar Live Release Rate formula is a transparent formula commonly used by shelters to provide information to the community as to the percentage of animals that left the facility with a Live Outcome. To calculate this percentage, follow the guidance below:

• Add the total number of dog and cat adoptions, transfers to rescue groups, and returns to owner. (If you wish to calculate the LRR for dogs or cats, then follow the same formula separately for the cat data column and the dog data column.)
• Divide this number by the total number of cat and dog outcome minus “Euthanasia by Request”, “Dead on Arrival” and "Disposals."
• Multiply the result by 100 to arrive at the LRR

Each animal, upon being brought to the Animal Control Center, is scanned for a microchip, evaluated for health and temperament, then vaccinated and wormed. Animal Control Center staff will continue to monitor the health of each animal during its stay. Healthy animals displaying good temperament are placed up for adoption as soon as possible.

The animal is held 3 working days, then put up for adoption, if deemed adoptable.

The animal is held 7 working days. The owners are contacted by phone as well as a letter being sent to their last known address. If the owner has not contacted our office and the animal is deemed adoptable it is put up for adoption.

The adoptable animal is immediately available for adoption. An animal may not be immediately placed for adoption due to health reasons, or the animal is too young to be adopted.

If a dog or cat is currently vaccinated for rabies, or under 4 months of age, the pet may be released to an owner for home confinement. Those dogs or cats that are not currently vaccinated and are over 4 months of age must be clinically confined either at the Animal Control Center, or at a licensed veterinary clinic. In either instance the animal must be confined for a period of 10 days beginning with the date of the biting incident.

Eligible dogs, pups, cats, and kittens can be adopted on a first come, first served basis. Payment of adoption fees is expected when the animal has been released by our veterinarian to go home.

These animals are adopted under the following provisions:

The Sangamon County Department of Public Health, Animal Control Center, can not guarantee the health of any animal that is adopted. Due to the types of diseases that are common to dogs and cats, there are incubation periods during which symptoms of disease can not be detected. Therefore, even with vaccination at our facility, the possibility exists that a dog or cat may show signs of disease after leaving the Animal Control Center. If an adopted animal gets sick within two (2) weeks, the Animal Control Center will provide treatment within its limitations. The adopter of any animal with pre-existing conditions, noted at the time of adoption, will be the responsibility of the person adopting the animal. The Sangamon County Department of Public Health may refund adoption fees, or may exchange a sick or healthy animal for another animal if the Animal Control Center is notified within fourteen (14) working days of the date of adoption. The Sangamon County Department of Public Health can not be responsible for any expenses incurred by an owner of an animal adopted from the Animal Control Center after it has left the facility.

Redemption of Impounded Animals Photo identification of the owner is required when reclaiming an animal. The animal may be reclaimed by the owner upon payment of any Animal Control Center impoundment fees, any municipal impoundment fees, rabies inoculation fees, registration/tag fees, boarding fees and other Animal Control Center fees as they apply.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. The virus is present primarily in the saliva, brain tissue and spinal fluid of a rabid animal. Rabies can affect all mammals. Since 2002, Sangamon County has had at least one confirmed case of rabies in bats every year except 2008.

Pets can be protected from rabies by having them inoculated against rabies by your veterinarian.

The Sangamon County Animal Control Center holds weekly rabies clinics. Please call for more information or to make an appointment at 217-535-3065.

IDPH Rabies Fact Sheet

What should i do if i have a bat in my house?

• Annual visit to your veterinarian is a minimum. This will help to maintain your pet’s vaccination status and allow your veterinarian to examine your pet to help detect any health problems early before they become possibly life threatening, or expensive to treat.
• Having your pet checked for heartworm and then maintaining preventative medication can help prevent having to put your pet through heartworm treatments.
• Using topical flea treatments can prevent skin problems and lessen the probability of your pet contracting intestinal parasites such as tapeworms.

Provide shelter for your animal if it is an outdoor pet. Your pet should be able to get out of the wind, rain, and direct sunlight year round. This does not necessarily mean having a dog house, but something with multiple sides and a roof. Some type of loose bedding that your pet can form around him/her is important in the winter months.

Animal bites and scratches, no matter how minor they may seem, can be very serious. It is the responsibility of anyone with knowledge of an animal bite to report the bite to the Animal Control Center. Seeking medical attention is always recommended. Reporting animal bites aids in the prevention of the spread of rabies.

Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (except holidays)
Call: 217- 535-3065

Officer Emergency Hours
Monday - Friday: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 a.m.

Anytime on Weekends and Holidays

Call Sangamon County Dispatch at: 753-6666 or your local police department.

The animals housed at the Sangamon County Animal Control Center receive the best possible care during their stay. Beyond meeting basic necessities, we strive to provide an environment as close to home as possible for each animal.

We are often asked by very generous people what we might need in the way of donations to help provide care for our animals. If you are considering making a donation, the list below represents our current, specific needs.

• Collars all sizes and colors
• Leashes
• Cat toys ~ jingle balls, large mice, foil balls etc.
• Nail clippers (human type, many cats prefer those)
• Feline Advantage® flea
• Frontline Plus® for dogs ~ any weight
• Heavy duty dog toys i.e. Kongs or other rubber toys…no balls please
• Donations of Kuranda beds can be made here .

Monetary donations are a great alternative for several reasons. You may choose how your donation is directed by indicating it for food, toys, beds, etc. Additionally, donated funds may be available when much needed items are in low supply. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.