Animal Control Information

The Animal Control Division, located in the Police Department at 400 Marlboro Street in Keene, is staffed part-time with one Animal Control Officer, weekdays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  

Contact: Keene Police Dispatch, (603) 357-9813 (They will dispatch the Animal Control Officer.)

• If your concern does not require an immediate response, or you would like to report a non-emergency complaint or welfare concern, you can call and ask for the ACO, or an online form is available as an option. 
   
• If your animal complaint or concern requires immediate attention, call the same number, (603) 357-9813, and provide detalied information to the dispatcher.  If the ACO is not available, a police officer may be dispatched for the call.

What does an Animal Control Officer do?

The Animal Control Officer (ACO) is responsible for enforcing State Laws and local ordinances pertaining to the welfare and control of domestic, exotic, and wild animals.  Additionally, an ACO responds to grievances and concerns of animal cruelty, animal bite/attack incidents, aggressive animal complaints, and excessive noise/barking issues.  Duties also include aiding law enforcement, fire departments, and EMS teams in addressing sick, neglected, or mistreated animals. 

KPD Animal Control Officer, Michelle Grimes

ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS

Our ACO, Michelle Grimes, provides guidance and addresses community needs regarding animal welfare concerns. She works to resolve issues and concerns through education, providing resources to members of our community and ensuring animals in need get the help they deserve.  If you have a concern, we encourage you to share it.

Should I report this?

Are you uncomfortable with what you are seeing?  If you are suspicious of what you have seen, please report it.  You might be the animal’s first witness, and it is OK to err on the side of caution - you might be saving lives.

*All emails regarding suspected animal cruelty are confidential; however, we require full contact information for email and online complaints for follow-up purposes.

What constitutes animal cruelty?

In New Hampshire, there are numerous laws that protect the welfare of animals.  Animal cruelty encompasses a range of behaviors harmful to animals, from neglect to malicious killing.  Many cruelty cases investigated are unintentional neglect that can be resolved through education.  Intentional cruelty or abuse is knowingly depriving an animal of food, water, shelter, or veterinary care or maliciously torturing, maiming, mutilating, or killing an animal.  Animal “hoarding” is a situation that happens when someone has collected so many animals that they are unable to provide proper care for them. 

How do I report cruelty?

• If you witness an act of animal torture or abuse, call the police immediately.
• If you know or suspect that an animal is being neglected or abused, you can report your information by calling our Animal Control Officer at (603) 357-9813 or use the online form.

Any contacts regarding suspected neglect or abuse are welcome. Your calls are confidential; however, we will require information to receive a valid report.

What should I report?

• An address of the area in question or an accurate description of the area you witnessed.
• The types and approximate number of animals in question and the time of day the observation was made.
• You will be asked to provide a description of the situation you witnessed, whether it included lack of shelter, lack of food and/or water, or underweight, unhealthy, or injured or deceased animals.

I have a wildlife problem.  What do I do? 
We recommend contacting a wildlife removal specialist.  
(KPD has no affiliation with the following businesses, nor do we have any opinion about the services offered.)

CAW Wildlife Removal
(603) 313-7162
cawwildliferemoval@gmail.com

Critter Solutions
(603) 878-3667
http://crittersolutions.net

Monadnock Pest & Wildlife Services
(603) 784-5828
(603) 554-5717
https://monadnockpest.com/wildlife-control