KNOW YOUR BOROUGH ANIMAL SHELTER

ANIMAL OWNERSHIP

Our animals depend completely upon us for their care and safety so we need to accept full responsibility for their health and actions. Due to the large number of animals in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, we must all cooperate in observing borough ordinance concerning animal ownership.

BOROUGH ORDINANCE AND ANIMAL OWNERSHIP

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Ordinance includes several important rules. A complete copy of the borough ordinance concerning animal ownership can be obtained from Animal Control or follow the link on http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/AnimalControl/.

• Owners shall provide adequate shelter, food and veterinary care for their animals.
• Owners shall keep their dogs and cats current on rabies vaccinations.
• Owners shall physically restrain their animals, including cats, to their own property when owners are not immediately present.
• Owners shall maintain their animals on a leash while on public or private property.
• Owners shall not tie animals on public property where such an action impedes the safe use of any public place.
• Owners shall enclose female dogs and cats in heat to prevent contact with male animals.
• Owners shall prevent their dogs from excessive howling, barking or whining.
• Owners shall remove their animals’ feces from any public or recreational area, or from the private property of others.

Officers of the Division of Animal Control may issue warnings, citations, or impound animals when owners fail to manage their animals according to Borough Ordinance.

THE DIVISION OF ANIMAL CONTROL

The Division of Animal Control is made up of trained personnel equipped with five radio-dispatched vehicles. It operates out of the animal shelter located at 2408 Davis Road, maintaining regular business hours. After regular business hours an Animal Control Officer can be reached through a dispatch service which forwards emergency calls involving animal bites or injured domestic animals.

The Division of Animal Control provides the essential services of animal care, rescue, and control for all domestic animals including livestock. All inquiries concerning wildlife are referred to the Department of Fish and Game. Animal control personnel field all complaints concerning domestic animal problems and answer all inquires concerning lost and found animals. In addition, they manage the redeeming and adoption of animals.

ANIMAL PROBLEMS

While many owners in the Fairbanks North Star Borough manage their animals responsibly, others allow their animals to become public nuisances or threats to public safety.

• Animals at large, especially dogs, rummage through trash, disturb gardens or kill livestock. They may even bite passers-by.
• Animals at large pose a danger to themselves as well. They may become lost, injured or struck by vehicles. Small animals at large are especially vulnerable to other loose animals.
• Animal Control Officers pick up animals at large and transport them to the animal shelter on Davis Road where they are housed and tended. The general public may also bring in animals. The animal shelter has live traps available for private citizens who wish to capture problem strays in their area and maintains indoor holding cages for animals dropped of after normal business hours.
• Lost pets coming through the animal shelter are housed and tended. Animals without identification are housed a minimum of 72 hours. Animals with identification are housed a minimum of 120 hours and every effort is made to contact their owners; however, concerned owners should come to the shelter to look for their own lost pets. Owners should also contact other shelters in the area including those located at Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base.
• Dogs that bark excessively may prompt a resident to file a formal complaint. An Animal Control Officer will propose possible solutions which may include the use of a "bark collar." These collars are available at the animal shelter for a refundable deposit and a nominal weekly fee.
• Animals that are mortally wounded may be humanely euthanized.
• Animal bites that break a person’s skin must be reported to Animal Control immediately. The offending animal shall be quarantined for 10 days to determine whether or not it is a transmitter of rabies and upon successful completion of quarantine will be returned to its owner.
• Reports of cruelty to animals are given high priority and Animal Control investigates all complaints. Cruelty investigation findings are forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency for prosecution as stipulated in AS 03.55.110.

ANIMAL SHELTER SERVICES

The Animal Shelter is located at 2408 Davis Road. It is open for calls Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The Shelter is open for public visitation Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Redemption of an impounded animal can be made at the following rates:

First impound .......................................................$60.00
Second impound .................................................$120.00

Each subsequent impound increases by $60.00 within any 3 year period to a maximum fee of $300. Before an animal can be redeemed the owner must provide proof of a current rabies vaccination or there will be an additional charge.

• Adoption of available animals can be made at the following rates:

Dogs and puppies ............................................................................................$ 86.00
Cats and kittens ..............................................................................................$ 50.00

Small animals, small caged birds, fowl, small reptiles, other small animals not listed .....…$  5.00

Guinea pigs ………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………….….$ 20.00
Goats, pigs, iguanas, rabbits, large caged birds and large reptiles………………………….........$ 35.00

Horses, mules, ponies, donkeys ……………………………………………………………………………… …......$300.00

Livestock (bovines, reindeer, llamas, emus, other large animals not listed) ……….......…….$200.00

If applicable, an additional $15 fee is charged for rabies vaccination.

All cats and dogs must be spayed or neutered and have a permanent form of identification before or upon adoption.

• Tattoos or microchips provide positive, permanent identification for dogs and cats.

Tattoos and microchips both greatly facilitate the reuniting of owners with lost pets. Tattoos are placed in the right ear and are effective for animals remaining in the Borough. Microchips are effective worldwide, placed under the skin between the shoulder blades and are significantly less painful. Tattoos are free, microchips are $20, and both are available on a walk-in basis without appointment.

• Rabies vaccination is required by law for dogs and cats according to the following schedule:

1st vaccination ................................at 3 months of age.
2nd vaccination ...............................1 year after first vaccination.
Subsequent vaccinations .................. every 3 years.

Each year Animal Control holds at least one low-cost clinic to vaccinate animals against rabies. The locations and details are published well in advance on the FNSB homepage and in the media.

·         Euthanasia, when necessary, is humanely performed by nationally-certified personnel injecting a barbiturate drug. Animal carcasses are hygienically disposed of by cremation. Both services are provided to the public free of charge during limited hours. Please call the Shelter for details. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Dedicated volunteers are always welcome and we have numerous volunteer opportunities available.  Volunteer applications can be downloaded from the FNSB Human Resources website at http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/HumanResources/Policies/65%20Personnel-Payroll/P%2065.21%20Application.pdf.  Call us at 459-1451, option 4, for more information and training orientation dates.

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