Animal Control

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Wayne Animal Control, a Division of the Wayne Health Department, handles well over a hundred complaints a year ranging from barking dogs to animal cruelty.  If there is an animal issue you may call our office at 973-694-9295 or email us.  We will take the appropriate action to rectify a problem or counsel the complaining party as to their rights and possible course of action.  Animal to human bites and animal-to-animal bites are to be reported to Animal Control for implementation of rabies protocol.

The Wayne Animal Control Division performs an ongoing animal census by going door to door in the various neighborhoods throughout the Township in order to identify unlicensed dogs and cats. The licensing process allows for an effective rabies control program. Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus and if left untreated, it will attack the nervous system and cause death. Owners of unlicensed domestic animals may face legal action when identified by Animal Control, so owners should be sure their cats and dogs are licensed each year.

The license renewal period begins the first business day and ends the last business day of every January. Renewals after this period are subject to a $5.00 late fee. Please be advised that the Health Department will no longer mail hard copy reminders about renewing licenses. It is the animal owners' responsibility to make sure this is done annually. If you would like an email reminder, please email us or call us at 973-694-1800 ext. 3313 to submit your email address. You will then begin receiving license renewal reminders and other pertinent information electronically. The submitted email addresses are preserved for this use only and are not shared.

Wayne Township offers free Rabies Vaccinations to all dogs and cats.  There are three clinics in May and one clinic in November at the Town Garage on Dey Road.  Cat or Dog first rabies vaccinations are good for one year; subsequent shots are for a three-year duration.  Dogs and cats may be licensed once they have a current rabies vaccination that does not expire before November 1^st of each licensing year.  Renewals for licenses are available online or in person at the Town Hall 475 Valley Road.

Information or applications for Low Cost Spay/Neuter programs are available through Animal Control.  There are definite health benefits besides cutting down on overpopulation to altering your pet.  Please call Animal Control at 973-694-9295 or email us for in depth information on the various programs available and health issues.

How to Know When an Animal Needs to be Rescued

Many people encounter what appear to be sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. The New
Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife urges New Jersey residents to leave young wildlife
undisturbed. Every year, especially during the spring and early summer, the lives of
many young animals are disrupted. Well-intentioned people may attempt to 'save' these animals, and more often than not, the mother is nearby.

Are the Babies Really Orphans? Before you take an animal from its environment you
should first make sure the babies are in need of rescue. Most babies are under the
watchful eye of there parents. Parents sometimes leave babies alone so they can search for food. Keeping wildlife babies with their natural parents is the best choice for their survival. They teach the babies how to get food and how to avoid predators. Observe for a while to see if the parents return or try to reunite the baby with the parents. It is a myth that a parent will reject a baby if there is human scent on it.

 Is the Animal in Danger? Observe to see that there is no immediate danger to the animal. Keep dogs and cats away. Check to see if there are any other predators nearby. Hawks flying above may be a danger to young babies not protected by their burrow. If you are worried that an injured animal may crawl away while you contact Animal Control, place a garbage can over the animal.

Is the Animal Sick or Injured? Observe adult animals before rescue. If the animal is
sick and not injured, the animal may carry a disease such as rabies or distemper.
Remember your safety is always first. Call Animal Control if you have any concerns.

What is rabies? Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus. The virus is found in the
saliva of a rabid animal and is transmitted by a bite, or possibly by saliva contamination of an open cut or the eyes. Left untreated, rabies attacks the nervous system and causes death.

Does the animal have rabies? Rabid animals are usually either vicious or aggressive,
or may appear to be drunk and have trouble walking. Some animals may be rabid even
though they appear to be normal. People should stay away from all wild and stray
animals which are aggressive or appear to be sick.

QUICK FACTS:

Rabbits feed their young only at dusk and dawn, which is probably why you never see
them. If the babies are plump and warm, they are being taken care of. If you are unsure, place some strings or sticks in a pattern across the nest. If the sticks are later disturbed, the mother has returned to feed her young. A nest that has been disturbed by gardening or the dog sniffing it can be reconstructed and the mother will return. Contact Animal Control with any babies that may be injured - do not try to care for them yourself.

Fawns commonly are left alone by their mothers for most of the day to protect them. The fawn has no scent and will be safe because its predators (other than humans) will walk right by a fawn they can't smell. If you see a baby deer all alone, this is normal. Do not take it away from its hiding place. Natural mothers provide better care, nutrition, and survival training than any human. If there is a possibility that the mother is around, wait. If you find a young fawn lying alone, leave it there. The mother comes back several times each day to nurse the fawn. If you've already picked the fawn up and brought it home - put it back. Even one or two days after removal from the wild, fawns have been successfully reunited with their mothers, by returning them to the place where they were found. Adult deer spend much of the day feeding and loafing. Fawns that are not strong enough on their legs to keep up with the adults are left behind. Usually young fawns are quite safe because their color pattern and lack of scent help them to remain undetected until their mother's return.

Skunks If you see a dead skunk by the road and babies are around then they need to
be rescued. Skunks tend to be most active in the evening and early morning. Like
raccoons, SKUNKS CAN CARRY RABIES. Your Animal Control Officer may need to be
contacted.

Birds Young birds are sometimes found on the ground near a nest. When this happens, the best thing to do is to put the bird carefully back into the nest. Don't worry about getting your scent on the bird; it will not affect the mother's care. If you can't reach the nest, leave the bird on the ground. Every bird alive today has spent a few precarious days on the ground while learning to fly. The best thing you can do during this time of year to protect young wildlife is to keep cats indoors.

Raccoons When young raccoons are found out alone, most likely, they are merely
exploring and their mother is nearby. They are probably old enough to be fully capable of climbing back up a tree to their den. If they were too young to climb, the mother would carry them back.

Intended acts of kindness often have the opposite effect. Instead of being left to
learn how to find food, young animals taken from the wild will be denied their
natural learning experiences. They often become attached to their caregivers and
no longer survive in the wild. In addition, nearly all wild birds and mammals are
protected under the law and may not be legally kept as pets. Only when they are
found injured or with their dead mother is there reason to do something and only
under these circumstances can an animal be transferred to a licensed wildlife
rehabilitator.