|
Q: Where you located and what are are your hours?
A: 4028 West Plano Parkway
3/10 of a mile West of Coit on Plano Parkway
Beside the Dallas Stars ice skating rink
Closed Sundays and Mondays
Tuesday - Friday 9:00-5:30
Saturday 9:00 - 4:00
Q: How do I file a complaint? (Noise-welfare-waste-restraint)
A: Information is taken and inputted into a computer system which assigns a case number. An Animal Services Officer (ASO) will respond within 72 hours with the exception of welfare or an animal unrestrained which are completed that day.
The complainant's name, address and phone number are asked. If they are reluctant, we assure them this information is not given out and that it falls under the State of Texas Law section 552.101 of the Government code (protecting the identity of the informer). The problem is written on the complaint, and the address is researched for prior problems and to check on city registration (license) and rabies vaccination.
The assigned ASO will either speak with the owner or leave a door tag. On noise complaints, a letter is written to the owner, and a copy is sent to the complainant. For a second noise complaint, an ASO goes out in person. Our division is the informant twice in a twelve month period. If the letter or the ASO does not help alleviate the problem, the complainant is then advised to file a formal complaint with the Municipal Court.
On each call, the ASO will check for current city registration and rabies vaccination. If either is not in compliance, a written warning is issued with a seven day grace period. Failure to comply may result in a citation.
Click here to download a Noise Complaint Log.
Q: Do you have a ______ for adoption?
A:Most of the time we will advise them if we have a purebred. We do not describe the entire amount of animals being housed but encourage them to either view all of the animals in adoption on our web page or come into the shelter to visit with the animals.
Q: What do I need to do if I have lost/found an animal?
A: Unless an animal is a purebred, has a collar with tags, micro-chipped or tattooed, we will ask the owner to come to the shelter and make a lost report.
Citizen's that find an animal in Plano can keep the animal at their residence, and we will take a found report. The lost and found book has an area for the date and location of where the animal was lost or found, a description of the animal and the owners or finders name and contact number.
Q: How do I check out a humane live animal trap?
A: Staff will check to see if any humane box traps are available. The requesting party is asked if they are a Plano resident and to come into the shelter and fill out a trap request. We will show them how to set it and what bait to use. If the person is a senior citizen, handicapped or if the animal has been involved in a bite, then we will deliver the trap.
Smaller traps are used for rats and squirrels. The larger one is for cats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, armadillo's, etc. Mice traps are not available, and the citizen is referred to use the snap traps.
No deposit is required. and the trap is due back within a seven day period. If the trap is lost, damaged or stolen, the responsible party will be required to pay the replacement cost of $50.00 for the small traps and $70.00 for the larger. Home Depot, Loews, Wells Brothers and the Pest Shop sell traps for a cheaper price in lieu of paying the replacement fee.
If the animal is heard after sunset, it is not a squirrel but most likely a rat or mouse. Animals in attics are normally squirrels, rats, mice or raccoons.
The resident is asked if they have any bird feeders (which attract rats, mice and squirrels) or if they have seen any holes around the eaves of their homes. If holes are seen, we ask what size it is to help determine what species we are dealing with. Feces can also assist in identification.
Our officers are not allowed to go into attics to retrieve traps or climb ladders. The resident should place the trap in the front, side or back yard for pick up. If the trap is placed behind any fenced or gated area, a note must be attached to the front door of the residence granting permission for Animal Services to pick up the trapped animal. The resident must sign their legal signature to the document and date it as well.
Q: How do I give up my animal?
A: We only accept pets from Plano residents. An animal profile sheet is filled out. No fee is required, but we ask for a donation fee of $25.00. We request that residents come into the shelter to surrender their pet. Special circumstances such as elderly or handicapped residents may be an exception to this policy.
Q: Do you put animals to sleep?
A: Must be a Plano resident. The owner will sign an owner request for euthanasia form. No fee is required, but we ask for a $25.00 donation. We request that residents bring their animal into the shelter but exceptions can be made for elderly or handicapped residents or special circumstances. The pet owner is not allowed to be present during the procedure.
All euthanasia is performed by lethal injection. The remains are placed in an incinerator. No "private” cremations are offered. We do not offer this service on Saturdays unless special circumstances require it.
Q: How do I schedule an appointment to have the animal that I adopted for it’s spay/neuter and/or vaccinations?
A: Currently, the veterinarian on contract is providing this service on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is only offered to animals that have been adopted from the Plano Animal Shelter, City of Plano employees and Animal Rescue Groups. We do not offer this service to the public.
The animal is brought to the shelter around 9:00 a.m. and can be picked up that same evening around 4:00 p.m. A post-op instruction sheet is give to the owner. We do have an off site Low Cost Vaccination Clinic, every second Friday of the month from 4:00 to 7:00. This is offered to everyone.
Q: What do you do about wildlife? (Coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, snakes, etc.)
A: An ASO will respond to all snake calls. Almost all snakes are non-poisonous. Texas rat snakes, which can get to be six feet long, are the most common. These snakes are beneficial because their diet consist of rats and mice. They sometimes shake their tail, and persons may think it is a rattlesnake.
For raccoons, opossums, squirrels and skunks, a live box trap is used.
Coyote and Bobcat sightings are documented to project a pattern for the wildlife specialist in order to have a better chance of capture. The public is advised that no coyote or bobcat attacks on humans have been reported in Plano.
Q: What do you do about ducklings in my swimming pool, baby rabbits in my yard and baby birds that have fallen out of the nest?
A: Ducklings are captured and taken to the Living Materials Center (a rehabilitation center). Most of the time the adult ducks fly off and are not captured. If there are duck eggs, we do not disturb them until they are hatched since migratory ducks are federally protected.
Baby rabbits are often found by the owner’s dog or during mowing. If all possible, we ask to leave the rabbits alone for the mother to raise. Baby rabbits in captivity do not do well. If the bunnies have been handled, the mother will take them back. Some concerns are the mother rabbit is not feeding the young. This is only done twice a day, and the adult will be in a seating posture and not laying down.
Mother birds will “kick” the baby bird out of the nest in order to teach the baby bird how to fly. If a citizen is concerned about a wild animal getting the baby bird, they can place the baby bird back into the nest (It is NOT true that touching a baby bird will cause the mother bird to not take care of the baby any longer) or attach a small plastic dish on a tree branch. We will pick up baby birds if need be and transfer to a wildlife specialist. |