Douglas County Animal Control

Douglas County Animal Control & Shelter provides many services to the county. The Animal Control portion involves the humane capture of loose animals, enforcement of state and county laws pertaining to animals (as well as the Animal Welfare Act, Illinois Humane Care Act, and the Illinois Animal Control Act), and licensing. The Shelter portion provides a safe haven for those animals who no longer have homes (strays, runaways, and those seized due to inhumane treatment or cruelty investigations), as well as providing the necessary veterinary treatments and social interactions to get them on their way to getting a new owner! All DCAC staff members undergo extensive training in order to provide the best care for the animals that we come into contact with. This includes online courses provided by the ASPCA regarding humane treatment and evaluating and interpreting animals and their environments, two lengthy FEMA courses on animal recovery and provisions during emergency situations, a correspondence course on Human-Animal relationships, and continuing education provided through podcasts by the Animal Behavioral Resources Institute. Staff members also attend seminars throughout the year to keep our humane Animal Control procedures and shelter protocols as current as possible.