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Animal Control Overview
The City of Morgan Hill Animal Control Services, located at
the Police Department, provides the services listed above.
Click on the links to read more about each subject.
For more information contact:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT
ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES
at 776-7324during regular business hours,
8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday,
or at the police department dispatch number,
408-779-2101, 24 hours a day.
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Animal Licensing
The City of Morgan Hill Animal Control Services holds responsibility
for animal licensing for Morgan Hill and Gilroy city residents,
including state-mandated responsibility for ensuring that
all dogs are licensed and have current rabies vaccinations.
Cat licensing is available, but not mandatory.
| TYPE OF LICENSE |
1-YR. FEE |
3-YR. FEE
( requires rabies valid for 3 years) |
| Regular (Unaltered) |
$24.00 |
$67.00 |
| Discounted(Spayed/Neutered Proof Required) |
$12.00 |
$31.00 |
Licensing may be done in person at the Morgan Hill Police Department or by mail. You will need proof of a current, valid rabies vaccination for your pet. You may download an application here (English Application Spanish Application) or pick up and complete the application at the Police Department. If you download the application, you will still need to return the completed application and proof of current rabies vaccination via the mail or in person at the Police Department.
Morgan Hill Police Department
Animal Control
16200 Vineyard Boulevard, Morgan Hill, CA 95037-3620
Make checks payable to the City of Morgan Hill.
For more information contact:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES at
776-7324,
during regular business hours, 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through
Friday.
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Emergency Medical
Animal Control Services will provide basic emergency medical
care for any stray animal that is seriously ill or injured.
Animal Control Services will take custody of the animal in
question, consult with a veterinarian on the treatment of
the animal, and provide for reasonable, basic medical treatment,
when necessary.
For more information contact:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT at the police department dispatch
number,
408-779-2101, 24 hours a day.
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Lost & Found
The City of Morgan Hill, Animal Control Services provides
a listing of lost and found pets. Anyone losing or finding
a pet should contact Animal Control and leave a description
of the pet (including breed, color, sex, size, collar, tags,
eye color, identifying marks, etc.), your name, address, and
phone number. We will add this information to our lost-and-found
logbook.
We hope, in the future, to provide a lost and found animal
listing on this page. We will reunite owners with their pets
whenever possible.
Please license your pet to give it a better chance to make
it back home again if it gets lost!!
To report a lost or found pet please contact:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT
Dispatch number, 408-779-2101, 24 hours a day
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Vaccination Clinics
The City of Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County, the City of Gilroy,
and the City of Hollister co-host a low-cost rabies vaccination
clinic twice yearly. At least one month before the clinic
is held, it will be announced on cable channel 34 in Morgan
Hill and Gilroy. Please periodically check cable channel 34
and this page for details.
For more information contact:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES
at 776-7324 during regular business hours, 8 AM to 5 PM,
Monday through Friday.
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Dangerous Animals
Morgan Hill Animal Control Services tracks potentially dangerous
animals within the city limits. Once classified as "potentially
dangerous," an animal must conform to very strict requirements
that ensure it will not run at large or threaten citizens.
If the owner of the animal does not meet the restrictions
imposed, that owner may be cited.
Be a responsible pet owner by keeping your pet under control
at all times and by reporting threatening dogs.
For more information contact:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES at
776-7324 during regular business hours, 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday
through Friday, or at the police department dispatch number,
408-779-2101, 24 hours a day.
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Dead Animals
The City of Morgan Hill provides for pickup of dead animals
in the public right-of-way, usually within 24 hours. Any dead
animal on private property is the responsibility of the property
owner. If you see a dead animal on the road, please call with
the exact location, your name, and your phone number (in case
we have trouble locating the animal).
If you see a dead animal on the road, please call:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES at
776-7324 during regular business hours, 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday
through Friday,or the police department dispatch number
408-779-2101, 24 hours a day.
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Abuse or Neglect
The Police Department investigates all reports of animal neglect
or abuse. Both animal neglect and animal abuse are serious
offenses. Please report any first-hand knowledge of neglect
or abuse.
For more information contact:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENTDispatch number 408-779-2101,
24 hours a day.
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Animal Bites
State law requires that all animal bites be reported to animal
control. If any animal ever bites you, or if your animal bites
someone, please notify Animal Control Services. A Police Officer
or the Animal Control Officer will take a bite report.
We also advise that you seek medical attention for all animal
bites.
To report an animal bite, please contact:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT Dispatch number 408-779-2101,
24 hours a day.
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Laws & Ordinances
Municipal Code provides for issuance of citations to owners
failing to comply with the Codes.
MHMC Section 6.12.030 - Dogs-License Required
"No person shall maintain or board any dog four months
of age or older which has not been licensed pursuant to
the provisions of Chapters 6.04 through 6.32 of this title....."
MHMC Section 6.12.020 - Dogs-Restraint Required
"The owner or person with the right to the control
of any dog or dogs shall keep such dog or dogs confined
to said person's own premises within such enclosures as
may be appropriate or dogs may be restrained by means of
a leash sufficient to keep the dog upon the premises, such
leash to be capable of restraining at least four times the
weight of such dog...."
MHMC Section 6.24.030 - Animals Running At Large
"No person owning or having control of any animal shall
permit such animal to stray or run at large upon any public
street or other public place, or upon any private place
or property or common area of any planned development, cluster,
townhouse or condominium project without the consent of
the owner or person in control thereof." (Ord.553 N.S.§
A (part), 1981)
MHMC Section 6.24.020 - PUBLIC NUISANCES
A. "No person owning or having control of any animal
shall permit such animal to do any of the following:
1. Defecate or urinate on private properties in the neighborhood
or community, other than that of the owner or the person
having control of the animal;
2. Defecate or urinate on public property without immediately
cleaning or removing the excrement to a proper receptacle;
3. Permit an animal to obstruct the reasonable and comfortable
use of property in any neighborhood or community by chasing
vehicles, molesting passers by, barking, howling, baying
or making any other noise;
4. Permit unsanitary conditions to exist on the premises
where the animal is kept which would cause odors, attract
flies or vermin or otherwise be injurious to public health
and safety, or indecent or offensive to the senses, or an
obstruction to the free use of property, so as to interfere
with the comfortable enjoyment or life or property by the
neighborhood, community or persons.
B. The Animal Control Officer, or any Peace Officer may
seize and impound any animal causing a public nuisance.
C. A violation of this section is declared to be a public
nuisance.
D. Any private person may maintain an action under Civil
Code Section 3493 for enforcement of this chapter declaring
certain acts a public nuisance, if such acts are especially
injurious to such person." (Ord.822 N.S. § 8,
1987; Ord.553 N.S. § A)
For more information, please call:
Animal Control Services at 776-7324, during regular business
hours, 8 AM to 5 PM,
Monday through Friday.
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Nuisance Complaints
Animal Control Services has been receiving many complaints
regarding barking, unrestrained, and unlicensed dogs. Most
of these complaints can be resolved with the co-operation
of responsible pet owners.
For more information contact:
MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT
dispatch number, 408-779-2101, 24 hours a day.
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Trap Loan
The City of Morgan Hill has a small number of cat traps
available to loan free-of-charge to citizens of Morgan Hill.
Contact the Police Department to borrow a trap for one week.
The City of Morgan Hill does NOT accept trapped cats.
The County Animal Shelter in San Martin as well does NOT
accept animals from City residents. Any non-protected wild
animal, inadvertently trapped, may be released within a half-mile
radius of the location where it was trapped. Otherwise, the
animal may be killed.
For more information contact :
MORGAN HILL PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT at 776-7337 during regular
business hours, 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
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Tips for Animal Control
NEVER approach a stray dog. The animal may injure
you.
WALK away from the dog while keeping an eye on it.
NEVER RUN. Running may cause the animal to attack or cause
it to imagine that you are playing a game with it.
WHEN a stray dog you cannot avoid approaches you,
NEVER look directly into its eyes. From the dog's point
of view, STARING is a challenge that it may respond to with
an attack. WATCH the dog indirectly, looking only at the
dog's head, not into its eyes.
SMILE. Dogs recognize a smile.
TALK to the dog in a happy high-pitched voice.
ALWAYS ask the owner's permission to pet an owned
animal, even if you have had previous contact with the animal.
REMEMBER when petting any animal, ALWAYS slowly
offer your fist first for scenting, bringing your hand up
from underneath the animal's head.
NEVER pet a dog on its head. NEVER put your hand
above its eyes.
ALWAYS scratch or pat the dog's side, chest, or
throat rather then the top of the head or the neck.
PAT the dog rather than stroking it. Stroking a
dog may make it more anxious. Firm pats may make it feel
more secure
AGGRESSIVE animals should be reported to the police
department.
ANIMAL BITES must be reported to the police department
for investigation. If you are bitten by a stray animal,
report it immediately so the animal can be caught and placed
in quarantine to check it for rabies. Always seek medical
treatment for any animal bite.
AVOID CONTACT with all WILD animals. NEVER attempt
to feed or pet a wild animal. Wild animals may carry a variety
of diseases including rabies.
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