Animal Control Laws

Basic Responsibilities for Pet Owners

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Care

Provide your pet with food, water, shelter, vet care, and space where they can freely sleep, walk around, and use the bathroom within your property.

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Licensing & Microchipping

Ensuring your pet is properly licensed and microchipped is essential for their safety and helps reunite lost pets with their families.

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• All dogs and cats over 3 months must be licensed annually and wear a license and rabies tag. Request a license by mail using this link. Or, visit any local animal control facility to obtain one. You must provide a copy of your pets rabies certificate to get a license.  

• Microchipping is mandatory and can be done at local shelters or veterinarians. Make sure you register the microchip with the microchip company and keep the registration current to ensure you will get your pet back if it ends up at a shelter! Pets that are not registered or do not have updated information are less likely to be reunited with their family. Click here to learn how to register a microchip and more. 

 

Rabies Vaccinations: 

Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies, and you must keep proof of the rabies vaccination. 

 

Pet Limits: 

No more than 4 dogs AND 4 cats per household. Pet owners under a lease agreement within housing sites shall comply with the number of dogs and cats allowed by the lease. 

 

Important Rules to Follow

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Animal Control
Maintaining control of your pet ensures their safety, prevents conflicts, and helps uphold community regulations.

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• Dogs must stay on your premises or on a leash or in a car. Cats may run loose.​

• All female pets in heat must be confined. Male dogs that are not neutered can smell a female in heat and will find her to mate. Keeping your unspayed female contained while in heat can help prevent unwanted litters. Read more about this here.

 

Reporting Bites
Reporting animal bites promptly helps ensure public safety and proper handling of the situation.

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• Report all animal bites within 24 hours to Animal Control.​

• The biting animal will be quarantined for 10 days. 

 

Dangerous & Vicious Animals
Properly managing dangerous animals is essential for community safety and responsible pet ownership.

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• Dangerous animals may be impounded.

• Owners must register any animal that can be a danger to the community and keep them securely confined on their property, and post signage warning people to be aware of the animal. 

• Animals that are a danger to the community are not allowed in public and may be euthanized if they pose a threat. 

 

Nuisance Animals

Owners can be fined if their pets:

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• Damage property. 

• Bark excessively. 

• Causes unsanitary, offensive conditions.  

• Chase cars or people. 

 

Animals with a collar OR microchip will be held for 72 hours.  

 

Animals without a collar OR microchip will be determined feral and shall be euthanized, placed with an animal welfare agency or adopted. 

 

To increase your chances of being reunited with your pet make sure to microchip your pet and keep your information updated 

 

Animal Shelters
Shelters provide services like microchipping, licensing, and adoptions. 

Locations: Ft. Defiance, Many Farms, Shiprock, Tuba City

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Division of Natural Resources Dispatch:
(928) 871-6491 OR (928) 871-7041

 

Fines and Penalties 

Fines for violations range from $50 to $200.