Animal Services FAQ

Where are you located?

We are located at 1605 Mark Tree Lane, Little Elm, TX 75068.

What are your hours?

We are located at 1605 Mark Tree Lane Little Elm, TX 75068. We are open to the public Monday–Friday from 10  a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 

***The shelter is closed from noon–1 p.m. Monday–Friday for lunch***

ALL ANIMAL VISITATIONS END 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO CLOSING

How do I file a complaint on an irresponsible pet owner or request animal service?

To file a complaint or request service, please call 972-377-1898 to speak with an Animal Services Officer. If an ASO is not available to personally answer your call, please leave a voicemail and your call will be returned as soon as possible. The ASO will need the exact physical address of the complaint, description of the animal (if known), and nature of the complaint. The request for service will be assigned to a field ASO who will investigate the complaint and take appropriate action. ASO's cannot release any details of the call once complete.

What pets are available for adoption?

Most of the animals needing new homes can be seen on our Adoption Information page. Our selection changes regularly, so if you are interested in adopting a pet, we ask that you visit our shelter during regular business hours. We cannot hold animals for potential adopters, and all adoptions are done on a first-come, first-served basis.

What do I need to do if I have lost/found an animal?

Lost: If you have a lost pet, we will ask that you come to the shelter or visit our lost and found page, and make a lost/found report. It is the owner’s responsibility to visit the shelter and reclaim any lost pet before the expiration of the animal’s five-day hold period. 

Found: All found animals must be reported to Animal Services. Finders can bring the animal to our shelter anytime during our regular hours, or they can request that an Animal Services Officer pick the animal up from their residence. If you are willing to care for the animal until the owner can be located, please let us know when you report it and bring the animal to the shelter or take to a vet to be scanned for a microchip. Please be advised that after five days, you are considered the owner of said found animal and will be required to abide by all City Ordinances and State Laws, including rabies vaccination.

Can I surrender my pet for adoption?

Town of Little Elm residents can bring their pets to the Animal Shelter anytime during the regular hours. **Proof of residency will be required in order to surrender an animal, such as a water bill or electric bill. All animals that are surrendered by their owner immediately become the property of the Town of Little Elm. While euthanasia is always a last resort, Little Elm Animal Services can never guarantee adoption for any animal that is surrendered to us, and therefore, request that animals only be brought to us when no other housing alternatives are available.

Can I surrender my pet to be put to sleep?

Town of Little Elm residents can bring their pets to the shelter for euthanasia anytime during our regular shelter hours. **We do not provide euthanasia services on Mondays or Saturdays. Before bringing your pets, please call to ensure we are able to accommodate your request in a timely manner.

The owner must sign a euthanasia request form pay a $35.00 fee to perform this service. We request that residents bring their animals to the shelter. All euthanasia is performed by a humane lethal injection and the remains are then cremated. Owners may not be present when the euthanasia is performed and no private cremations are offered. If the owner wants a private cremation or for remains to be returned to them, they must make arrangements with one of the local private crematories and let us know which company will be coming to pick the remains up at the time the animal is brought to the shelter. Once the pet is signed over, the Little Elm Animal Shelter staff reserves the right to not perform a euthanasia if they do not think it is medically or behaviorally necessary. At that time, staff will try to adopt the dog out or get it to a rescue group.

A bobcat or coyote was spotted in my neighborhood, what should I do?

Sightings of coyotes and bobcats are common in Little Elm and throughout the North Texas area. A sighting of a healthy coyote/bobcat does not constitute a threat to residents, and as long as their behavior appears normal, there is no reason to contact Animal Services. Contrary to popular belief, these animals do not live only in rural settings, and many have adapted to survive in suburban and urban areas. 

These small predators may appear to be a threat, but pose very little danger to people. On rare occasions, pets have been attacked by a coyote or bobcat. 

Homeowners actually benefit from the presence of coyotes and bobcats because their predation keeps the population of rodents and vermin in the area. For more information, visit www.dfwwildlife.org. 

Dos and Don'ts 

•    Do keep small dogs and cats inside at night.

•    Do keep the covers secured on your trash receptacles. 

•    Do keep your dog and cat on a leash (as required by city ordinance). 

•    Do report the coyote/bobcat sighting to the DFW Wildlife Coalition at 972-234-9453. 

•    Do try to consider that they were here first. 

•    Don’t feed your pets on the back porch or leave food out overnight. 

•    Don’t walk your small dog in wooded areas. 

•    Don’t approach, chase, make noises at, throw rocks at, or otherwise taunt a coyote or bobcat. 

•    Don’t approach any wild animal that appears trapped, injured, or sick. Contact Animal Services immediately at 972-377-1898. 

•    Don’t ever try to touch a coyote, bobcat, or any other wild animal.

What do I do if I am bitten by a dog or cat?

If you are bitten by an animal, even if it is your own animal, you are required by State law to report the bite to your Local Rabies Control Authority. If after hours, you can call our on-call officer at 469-853-2929, and an officer will be in contact with you.

I found an orphaned baby rabbit/bird/squirrel/other wildlife, what should I do?

Many times these animals are not "orphans" at all; they are either already old enough to be on their own or are still being cared for by parents who purposely stay away to prevent attracting predators. The best thing to do is to call the DFW Wildlife Coalition at 972-234-9453 or visit www.dfwwildlife.org for more information. They can help you determine if the animal is in need of assistance and contact a local wildlife rehabilitator if necessary.

Can I get my dog or cat vaccinated at the shelter?

The Little Elm Shelter does not provide vaccinations to the public, however, Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) comes to the shelter quarterly to provide low-cost vaccinations and other basic veterinary services such as heartworm tests, nail trims, and other treatments. You can contact the Animal Shelter at 972-377-1898 for more information or visit the info page here. 

Will you remove bees from my yard?

The Little Elm Animal Services officers are not equipped to handle bees. A pest control or professional bee removal company would need to be contacted to remove the bees.

Will you remove a snake from my home?

If a snake is in your home or garage, an Animal Services Officer will remove it. If the snake is in your yard, those will not be removed. Your yard is their natural habitat. If the snake is left alone, it will leave on its own.

If you have additional questions or need more information, contact Animal Services at 972-234-9453.