The Lake County Animal Care & Control program, a division of the Lake County Health Department, offers a wide range of animal related services, assistance and resources to Lake County residents. Lake County residents may call Animal Care & Control at (847) 377-4700. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. After hours services are limited to life threatening emergencies.

By Illinois and Lake County ordinances, all dogs or cats 4 months of age or over are required to be inoculated against rabies and to be licensed within the county they reside. Registrations can be obtained through the veterinarian issuing the vaccination or through the Animal Care and Control program. Residents moving from out of state with proof of current rabies vaccinations must contact Lake County Animal Care & Control within 30 days of moving to the County to obtain a valid registration tag. In addition to providing proof of vaccination, rabies tags help trace owners if the pet is lost. Dog and cat owners are responsible for keeping their animals current on vaccinations for the safety of the animal and the community.

Rabies is a virus that attacks the nervous system. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. Immunizing pets against rabies helps control the threat of animal rabies being spread. Questions on rabies in pets should be directed to a licensed veterinarian, rabies in humans to your family physician. State law and local ordinance requires that animal bites be reported to the Animal Control Bite Department at (847) 949-9925.

Lake County ordinance also requires that all dogs and cats be controlled in some manner to prevent their running at large, whether they are confined to the owner’s property or secured by a leash or lead. Complaints of excessive barking, animals running at large, and animal cruelty are investigated by Lake County Animal Control wardens. Lake County also provides low-cost Spay & Neuter assistance to households meeting a low income standard. Low cost vaccination clinics are also available to residents at a variety of locations, typically from spring through early fall. Microchipping is also available to dogs and cats residing in Lake County, and is an excellent resource in reuniting lost pets with their owners.

For more information on any of these services, please contact Lake County Animal Care & Control at (847) 949-9925 or visit their web site.  http://health.lakecountyil.gov/Population/Pages/Animal-Care-and-Control.aspx