Rabies Control

Scope of Service

The Rabies/Animal Control Program is responsible for the enforcement of County ordinances and State Laws pertaining to domestic animals. These regulations include licensing and vaccination requirements as well as “loose animal(s)”, vicious, cruelty and nuisance provisions. Animal Shelter services are provided through a contract with the Memphis Animal Services. Rabies Control does not service requests involving wildlife, including snakes, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, rats or birds.

Service Area Map

A map of the service area of the Rabies Control Program.

Service Area Includes

  • Arlington
  • Lakeland
  • Millington
  • Unincorporated Shelby County

Services Provided

  • Enforcing local animal control laws that protect people, animals and property
  • Holding a Rabies Vaccination Drive annually
  • Investigating animal bite reports and rabies control cases
  • Maintaining up-to-date rabies immunization records of licensed pets
  • Patrolling streets for stray, injured and/or abandoned animals
  • Providing educational information to schools and community groups
  • Providing shelter for stray, lost, abused or abandoned animals
  • Transporting sick, injured or stray animals to locations that can provide aide

Duties & Priorities

Several factors are taken into consideration such as public safety, animal safety and available personnel resources in determining enforcement priorities. The following is a list of some of the services provided by enforcement staff:
  • Animal Cruelty - Checking on the health and well-being of animals reportedly being neglected or physically abused
  • Patrolling for Loose Animals/Strays - Impounding stray animals before they can become a threat to the residents or to themselves on the streets or neighborhoods
  • Public Education - Promote the importance of the leash law and pet licensing through a combination of enforcement and education
  • Responding to Requests for Service - Assisting other agencies in impounding or identifying the location of dangerous or vicious animals, enforcing animal related ordinances, investigating complaints (leash law, noise, etc.) impounding strays and owner surrender animals and providing customer assistance and service
  • Vicious and Dangerous Animal/Bites - Immediately responding to reports that an animal has bitten a person or is menacing the public