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Animal Control

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The Police Department oversees the animal control operations within the City of Des Plaines. The Animal Control Unit’s functions include, but are not necessarily limited to:

  • Dogs on LeashesEnforcing of all animal-related laws and ordinances
  • Investigating animal cruelty and neglect
  • Responding to stray domestic animal complaints
  • Overseeing records of lost and found animals
  • Responding to domestic animal complaints
  • Performing animal bite investigations
  • Providing referrals and recommendations when appropriate

In-progress animal issues such as: dogs running loose, animal bites, injured wildlife, etc. should be reported through 911. For other non-emergency concerns or questions, please contact the Animal Control Unit by calling 847-391-5400.

The City does not provide removal of animals on private property. If you need assistance with removal of animals from your property, several local vendors may be able to assist:

For more information about the City’s Animal Control regulations, please review the City Code.

ABC Wildlife Discount Program

As a resident of Des Plaines, you may qualify for discounted ground trapping services provided by ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention, Inc. The City of Des Plaines has approved ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention Inc. for wildlife nuisance control on private property.

The City is not the purchaser of private animal control services and the decision to use ABC Humane Wildlife is that of the property owner and not the City. The decision whether to use ABC Humane Wildlife, or any other commercial animal control service, is completely up to the resident. ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention, Inc. will charge a private resident directly for the ground trapping and removal of skunks, raccoons, opossums, woodchucks, and squirrels. Residents wishing to use ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention Inc. must deal directly with the company. View the discounted pricing and services below and learn more here.

SERVICES DISCOUNTED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
DISCOUNTED PRICE

Inspection, consultation, and setting of one trap: The animal trapping process begins with an inspection of all ground-level areas involved, which may include stoop, deck, foundation, window wells, or any other common ground-level entry point. If trapping is needed, a humane box trap will be set on the ground level. ABC Humane Wildlife will meet with the resident regarding the trapping process. If an animal is caught, contact ABC Humane Wildlife and they will pick up the animal either that or the following day.

 $130

Return visit: ABC Humane Wildlife will pick up an animal in a trap or to reset a trap that has sprung or needs fresh bait. (Though the intention is to trap only skunks, all parties involved understand that captures of other species may occur, and a fee is associated with the visit to remove the animal from the trap). Pricing includes the pickup of any trapped animal. Additional fees apply for return visits, including visits to replace a broken indicator or reset/re-bait a trap. There is no additional charge for multiple trapped animals picked up during the same visit. Setting multiple traps at once is often the most time and cost-efficient trapping method. 

 $81
Additional traps set $67 
Daily trap checking fee (if needed): This fee includes removal of all animals trapped during each 1-day period, resetting and re-baiting each trap on the property when clients are unable to check their traps. The return visit fee is not charged to clients if they are assessed a trap checking fee.  $81
24/7 telephone consultation: Telephone consultation at any hour of the day or night is free of charge. Free

Services under this agreement are for single-family homes, individual duplex units, individual townhome units, and individual units in multi-unit residential properties. Commercial buildings and offices are excluded, except municipal properties belonging to Des Plaines that will be serviced at the discounted rate. The non-discounted, standard rate for each service is listed in this document.