Animal Control

● Provide proof of current rabies vaccination
● Provide proof of spay or neutering of the dog(s)
● Dogs must be microchipped. This can be done at the shelter at the time of registration
● Pay a $50 registration fee
● Call the shelter at 417-833-3592 to set up an appointment to complete registration
● Your dog will need to be present at the appointment

Renewal reminders are sent out yearly and can be returned by mail with a check or money order. You may also call to pay with a credit card by phone or come out to the shelter to pay in person.

Animal Control does not adopt out animals. Adoptable animals are rescued by our community partners, who then make animals available for foster or adoption. Our community partners include:
Humane Society of Southwest Missouri
Castaway Animal Rescue Effort (CARE)
Valley Hills Animal Rescue

Springfield-Greene County Animal Control also partners with Leigh's Lost and Found, KTTS Pet Finder and Springfield Animal Advocacy Foundation (SAAF) to help lost pets get spayed or neutered and back to their home.

Fill out our online form.

Animal control citations are filed with municipal court. Contact the court at 417-864-1890 for more information about citations and related fines.

Pit bull owners are not required to register their dogs to bring them into the city for veterinary or grooming appointments, but they do have to follow other requirements such as muzzling their dogs and keeping control of them at all times. Pit bull owners bringing their dogs into the city for reasons not listed above may be required to register their dogs to avoid violating ordinance.

Yes. Service dogs, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are subject to local dog licensing and registration requirements.

The first violation is a minimum $500 fine or one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. Jail time is possible. The second and each subsequent violation is a $1,000 fine or two years of probation and 200 hours of community service. Jail time is possible.

If you live in the city limits of Springfield, you may not have more than 4 cats over the age of six months per adult over the age of 18 in the household. You must have proof of rabies vaccination for each cat.

Feral cats are untamed cats that live outdoors and are not accustomed to human interaction. Feeding feral cats can result in property damage, neighbor complaints, attracting more feral cats, and danger for your family or pets. Feeding feral cats can also be interpreted by a court of law as “harboring,” making you the owner of the cats and subjecting you to the related ordinances.

You can avoid attracting feral cats to your property by:
● Not putting any kind of pet food outside, even for your own pets
● Making sure your trash is kept in containers with tight-fitting lids
● Closing your garage door and closing off areas that could shelter cats from bad weather (for example, under decks, porches, or any other type of enclosed space on your property)
● Minimizing the presence of rodents that may attract cats
● Keeping your yard mowed, removing spilled bird seed from the ground, and keeping your yard free of lumber and debris where rodents may hide

If you are already experiencing a problem with stray cats on your property, humane home remedies or manufactured products found at a pet store may be used to scare cats away without harming them. You may also consider implementing a Trap Neuter Return (TNR) system. Catch a feral cat in a humane trap, have them spayed or neutered, and return them back to the outdoors. For more information on TNR, contact the Springfield Animal Advocacy Foundation (SAAF) or Southwest Missouri Humane Society.

Springfield residents are allowed to keep chickens on their property as long as they keep no more than six hens per tract of land regardless of the number of homes or apartments on the land.

No roosters are allowed at residences inside city limits.

No breeding or fertilizer production for commercial purposes is permitted.

No. Chickens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced area at all times, and they must be secured in a henhouse or chicken tractor during non-daylight hours.

Enclosures must be kept clean, dry, odor-free, neat, and sanitary at all times so as not to cause odor or noise problems with neighbors. Enforcement is complaint-based.

Enclosures must be located no closer than three feet from property lines and at least 25 feet from another residence or business. They must provide adequate ventilation, sun and shade, and be impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators including dogs and cats. They must be located to the rear of the dwelling or other main structure and may be located in the rear yard as required by the zoning code.

The chicken owner must take necessary action to reduce the attraction of predators and rodents and the potential infestation of insects and parasites.

Chickens found to be infested with insects and parasites that may result in unhealthy conditions to human habitation may be removed by an animal control officer.

The chicken owner must provide for the storage and removal of chicken manure. All stored manure shall be covered by a fully enclosed structure with a roof or lid over the entire structure. No more than three cubic feet of manure shall be stored. All other manure not used for composting or fertilizing shall be removed.

Chickens, ducks, and other poultry can carry and spread Salmonella, a germ that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and/or abdominal cramps. Infants, elderly persons, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness, which can lead to hospitalization.
● Do not let children younger than 5 years of age handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other live poultry without supervision.
● Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Avoid touching your mouth before washing your hands. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available. Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.
● Wash hands after removing soiled clothes and shoes.
● Do not eat or drink in the area where the birds live or roam.
● Do not let live poultry live inside the house or in areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored, such as kitchens, pantries, or outdoor patios.
● Assume that anywhere the chickens live and roam is contaminated.
● Clean poultry-related equipment and materials outside your home, not inside.