What to Do When Animal Control Comes to Your House

Being visited by Animal Control can be unnerving, to say the least. Animal Control is law enforcement, and they can come to your home whenever aggressive animals, animal abuse, or illegal breeding practices are suspected. If you have a dog that’s been accused of biting or mauling someone, or if you’re breeding animals, it is important to avoid letting Animal Control in.

Just like all other forms of law enforcement, Animal Control has a responsibility to honor your constitutional rights. Take stock of the tips below to keep yourself legally protected should this agency ever pay a visit.

Exit Your Home and Close the Door

Do not invite Animal Control to come in, even if they ask to do so. This agency is not able to enter your home without your permission or without a warrant. Although local police can enter the premises absent these things if they believe that human life is at risk, there are few circumstances that grant Animal Control these same exceptions.

Exiting the home and firmly closing the door behind you clearly communicates that you are unwilling to grant entry. It also prevents officers from stepping forward and backing you into the property. If you allow them to step foot inside without challenging it, this can be construed as permission to enter.

Moreover, anything that they deem as being “in plain sight” as you talk to them through your open front door can be used as evidence against you. Not only does a closed-door keep them out, it additionally ensures that you aren’t unintentionally revealing anything that might prove legally harmful in the future.

Evidence in plain sight can also be used to make an arrest, even if this evidence is not related to the claims that originally brought Animal Control to your home.

Ask to See the Warrant

You may be greeted by Animal Control officers who claim to have a warrant. If this is the case, you should ask to see the warrant before granting entry. When reviewing this document:

• Make sure that it is dated and signed by a judge
• Verify its limitations
• Recite the limitations of the warrant before allowing officers inside

Limitations on a warrant to search your home might be as specific as allowing officers to investigate a kennel in your garage. In this instance, this does not grant Animal Control the authority to enter your actual living environment. Instead, it restricts them to any secondary or sealed-off buildings that are used as a garage.

If they have been granted legal entrance into the home to search for dogs, they do not have the right to go through small containers that couldn’t possibly contain dogs such as your jewelry box or medicine cabinet. Firmly stating the limitations of the warrant ahead of any property search will let officers know that you’re aware of which actions are an infringement of your rights.

Keep Everyone in the Home Informed

Keep in mind that anyone lawfully in possession of the home has the ability to grant Animal Control officers access. Thus, if you have a roommate, housekeeper, pet sitter, or family member who might open the door, they should be versed in these same response strategies.

All parties should be instructed to talk with Animal Control officers outside of the home and with the door closed. If a warrant is presented, everyone should know how to read this document, verify its authenticity, and state its limitations. Visit this link to learn more about the liability of dog owners.

When a Visit From Animal Control Leads to Arrest

If you are ever arrested during an Animal Control visit, it is important to remain silent. Avoid giving any responses until you have obtained an attorney. Whether you believe that you’re in violation of the law or not, anything that you say or do following your arrest will be kept on record and can be used against you.

Ethical breeders and those who own pets are often targeted by neighbors and other members of their communities. Having Animal Control show up at your home doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve done something wrong.

Making sure that these professionals honor your constitutional rights is important for keeping yourself protected. By demanding a warrant, refusing entry when possible, and stating the limitations of lawful searches, you can greatly increase your likelihood of having a positive outcome.