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General Information

Forsyth County Animal Control is a full service animal-care-and-control agency in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The current shelter was opened in 1970, but the department has been serving the citizens of Forsyth County since 1950. The department includes the Animal Shelter and Law Enforcement Divisions.

Animal Shelter Division

The Forsyth County Animal Shelter is open seven days a week. Although we have outgrown our present facility, the caring and compassionate staff provides safe, humane housing for stray, unwanted, abandoned, abused, sick and injured animals. The shelter provides a variety of services including:

• Adoption program
• Early spay/neuter program for shelter animals
• Health care program for shelter animals
• Rabies quarantine facilities
• Lost and found animal program
• Microchip-identification program
• Trap-loan program
• License sales
• Public education

Law Enforcement (Patrol) Division

The patrol division is responsible for enforcing local and state laws concerning animals. Our animal control officers are sworn law enforcement officers with the same authority as deputy sheriffs or police officers. Our officers work seven days a week and provide emergency service twenty-four hours a day. Animal Control Officers provide a wide variety of services, including:

• Rescue sick and injured animals
• Pick up lost, stray and homeless animals as well as sick and injured wildlife
• Investigate and prosecute reports of animal cruelty and abuse
• Investigate animal bites
• Manage the rabies-control program
• Pick up dangerous and aggressive animals
• Conduct public education programs

Officers have the option to issue a warning, a civil citation or a criminal citation. They may also issue a field order for preventive measures to protect the public from a potentially dangerous animal. For more information on the Forsyth Country's animal control ordinance, click here.

Forsyth County's animal control officers are among the most highly trained professionals in the country. In addition to their law enforcement training, they participate in training for specialized animal crimes like dog fighting and cockfighting, attend national animal control training, and receive certification for chemical immobilization.

Contact Information

Animal Shelter
5570 Sturmer Park Circle
Winston-Salem, NC 27105

Adoption and
Redemption:
    (336) 703-DOGS (3647)
Complaint and
Investigations:
    (336) 703-2490
Lost and Found:
    (336) 703-2478
Licensing:
    (336) 703-2479
Administration:
    (336) 703-2480
FAX:
    (336) 661-6414


Hours of Operation
Closed Sunday
12:00 - 5:00 Monday
12:00 - 7:00 Tuesday
12:00 - 5:00 Wednesday
12:00 - 7:00 Thursday
12:00 - 5:00 Friday
12:00 - 5:00 Saturday

Job Opportunities

There are no jobs for this
department at this time.

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