Animal Services

COVID-19

The Idaho Falls Police Department and the Idaho Falls Animal Shelter are implementing adjustments in conjunction with the world-wide effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. These adjustments are intended to be temporary and have been made with CDC and Eastern Idaho Public Health guidelines, as well as our continued mission to serve the people of Idaho Falls, firmly in mind. 

All in-person non-essential service interactions at the Idaho Falls Animal Shelter are temporarily halted. This includes the following functions.

  • Microchipping.
  • Youth group activities and tours.
  • Casual visitors. Visitors will only be allowed for adoptions, reclaiming animals, or found animals.
  • Intake of stray cats (Unless the cat is injured).
  • Routine owner surrenders. (Please contact the shelter by calling (208)612-8671 for assistance with resources to continue to care for your pet or other options.)

The following Idaho Falls Animal Shelter functions will continue with the listed adjustments to ensure the health of staff and necessary visitors.

  • Adoptions & Reclaims of Lost Pets- If you find an animal that you are seriously interested in adopting you can come in to meet that animal.  If you are not serious, please refrain from coming into our facility to ensure the health of staff and necessary visitors. If your pet is here, please come in to reclaim your pet as quickly as possible. 
  • You can check our current list of adoptable/stray DOGS at https://www.facebook.com/pg/ifanimalshelter/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155079940105102
  • You can check our current list of adoptable/stray CATS at https://www.facebook.com/pg/ifanimalshelter/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155079917150102
  • Owner Present Euthanasia – This service will be by appointment only and must be made in advance by calling (208)612-8671. We have instituted a two-person limit at these appointments, and those two individuals will be required to wear a mask to prevent potential transmission of illness to staff.   
  • Pet Licensing – we will continue to sell pet licenses over the phone only, and a tag will be mailed to you. Please contact us at (208) 612-8671 for this service. A current rabies vaccination is required to purchase a license. 
  • Emergency owner surrenders- We will accept emergency owner surrenders only.  All other surrenders will be asked to wait until further notice.  Please call ahead if you wish to surrender your pet so that we can evaluate our kennel occupancy to see if we can accommodate your pet safely. 
  • Field operations- We will respond to all calls as usual until further notice. 
  • Stray intakes- We will still accept stray dogs and cats (injured cats only) found in Bonneville County, ID through normal processes.

Learn More

Idaho Falls Animal Services provides top-notch services to the City of Idaho Falls as it assists the community in answering questions and finding solutions to animal-related problems. It's staff, which includes 10 full-time and part-time employees, responds to protect the animals of Idaho Falls every day from cruelty and neglect. They also rescue many animals that are in danger and/or injured every year. Our officers are authorized by Idaho state law and City of Idaho Falls ordinances to enforce animal related laws.

What Idaho Falls Animal Control Officers Do


  • Investigate, prevent and stop animal neglect and cruelty
  • Educate the public about animal welfare
  • Protect public health by removing deceased animals from public by-ways
  • Enforce animal-related laws - such as dogs at large, barking dogs and animal neglect - by issuing citations if necessary
  • Protect the public from dangerous and/or aggressive animals
  • Quarantine animals who have bitten or attacked
  • Rescue animals that are in danger, sick, injured, lost or unwanted
  • Work to reunite animals with owner or find animals adoptive homes
  • Mediate disputes neighbors have about animals
  • Assist other law enforcement agencies
  • Respond to calls regarding animals in traffic, loose livestock, and wild animals causing problems in urban areas
Idaho Falls Animal Shelter Truck
Animal Control Officer with Dog
Animal Control Worker with Dog

How to Contact an Animal Control Officer


Idaho Falls Animal Services Officers are on duty from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Weekends. To reach us, please contact Police Dispatch at 208-529-1200. After hours emergency situations will be handled by Idaho Falls Police Officers.

When an Animal Control Officer Responds to Calls


Calls are handled on a priority basis. How quickly an Animal Control Officer responds to a call depends upon the priority of that call and how many calls of a higher priority are occurring at that particular time. For example, calls involving an injured animal or immediate danger of injury or harm to a person (from an animal) are the highest priority. Conversely, calls regarding a barking dog might take a longer response time. Your patience and support is appreciated.