About Animal Services

Overview

The mission of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office Animal Services Unit is to protect the public from the threat of rabies virus exposure and to ensure proper animal care, through prevention, public perception, and education.

The Animal Services Unit is a unit of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office. It is the responsibility of this unit to enforce all state laws and county health regulations pertaining to domestic animals and the county animal control ordinance. In addition, the Animal Services Unit will cooperate with any other law enforcement agency that may need assistance in handling any form of a domestic animal.

Services & Hours

Phone calls and walk-ins are welcome between the hours of Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.

Animals are available for adoption at the shelter at 180 Division Drive, Monday through Friday, from 11 am until 3:45 pm and Saturday, 8 am to noon. Animals may be viewed on our Adoption page.

Animal complaints may be called in to the main office at 910-798-7500 during the hours of 8 am until 4 pm, Monday through Friday. After-hours emergencies, such as an animal bite or injured animal, may be reported through the 911 Center.

Please call Animal Services at 910-798-7500 to appeal the civil citation and basic inquiries or 911 to report complaints, abuse, neglect or any other priority calls.

Donations & Volunteering

You may help the animals of NHC by sending a tax-deductible donation to the shelter at: 
180 Division Drive
Wilmington, NC 28401

Volunteers are needed and welcome at our facility for a variety of areas of interest. You must be at least eighteen years of age according to county policy. Fill out the Online Volunteer Application Form or visit the shelter to complete your volunteer application.

Existing volunteers should use the login website to schedule themselves.

Deceased Animal Complaints

NCDOT will only pick up deceased animals if they are on a state-maintained road or state right-of-way. Their numbers are as follows:

• Sanitation, City: 910-341-7875
• Sanitation, County: 910-341-0500
• Sanitation, Carolina Beach: 910-458-2999

Other Resources

Do you have questions about Coyotes? View coyote information on the North Carolina Wildlife website.

View the What To Do With Your Pet During Emergencies (WMV).

24Petconnect is a great resource for lost and found pets as well as adoptions.