Animal Bites

If you have been bitten by an animal, call Animal Control immediately. An officer will arrive to help tend to your injury and to contain the animal if it is still in the area.

Call Animal Control or Police

Call Animal Control at (510) 981- 6600 immediately. An animal control officer will respond to the scene and take a report. 

If the incident happens after hours and the Animal Shelter does not answer the phone, call the Berkeley Police Department at (510) 981- 5900.

Tend to the wound

While waiting for an officer to arrive:

• Provide first aid for the bite
• If the wound is serious call 9-1-1 

For less serious wounds, please stay at the scene until an officer arrives to take a bite report before going to see a physician.

Contain or identify the animal

If possible, safely contain the responsible animal. If the animal is vicious, wait until animal control arrives and they will contain the animal. 

If the responsible animal does not stay in the area, try and get a good look at the animal so that you can give a description to animal control or the police.

Quarantine your pet if it bites

If your pet bites, quarantine it at home. Animals that cannot be quarantined at home will be impounded at the shelter.