Canine Control
Diane Kurkjian, CVT
Canine Control Officer
(781) 979-4102
dkurkjian@cityofmelrose.org
The Canine Control Officer's duties are to enforce the City Of Melrose Ordinances, Chapter 93, Animals. These ordinances pertain to domestic animals, in particular dogs and are specific in addressing the responsibilities of dog owners and resulting fines should these ordinances be ignored. The primary responsibility of the Canine Control Officer is to respond to issues dealing with nuisance dogs, hurt or lost dogs, loose dogs, and dog bites.
Melrose's Canine Control Officer is also the city's Inspector of Animals. In this capacity her primary duty is rabies control. For more information on animal inspector duties and rabies control Massachusetts Dept of Agricultural Resources -Division of Animal Health.
I Heart My Dog Program For the most updated information please go to melrosecaninecontrolofficer.blogspot.com
Contacting Canine Control
The Canine Control Office is part of the Health Department and is located in the lower level of City Hall, 562 Main St. When calling Canine Control, please leave a message with your contact information. The office is generally staffed M-F 8:30-2:30. However, the officer may be away from the phone or responding to another call. If your issue is urgent and during business hours, please also call the Health Department at 781-979-4130. Outside of normal business hours, for urgent issues, please call the Melrose Police Department, non-emergency line 781-665-1212x8 to speak to the desk officer, who can contact Canine Control if necessary. Please refer to the sections below for guidance on various issues. For an updated lost/found and event listing, click here.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Who can help me find my lost dog/cat?
I’ve found a dog or cat… who do I contact?
Who can help me with barking, unleashed dogs or nuisance dogs & dog bites?Who do I call for sick or injured animals?
Who do I call regarding raccoons, skunks, squirrels, bats and other wildlife on my property?
There is a dead animal on the street… Who do I call to pick it up?
There is a dead animal in my yard… Who do I call to pick it up?
Who do I call about dead animals on City or private properties?
Where can I get information on wild Turkeys, turtles, coyotes, geese, swans…?
Reporting a lost pet - Please call the office and leave a detailed message with a description of your pet, where they were lost and your contact information. We keep a listing of lost and found pets at our office, and it is also posted on our blog link.
Reporting a found pet - Please call the office and leave a detailed message with a description of your pet, where they were lost and your contact information. We keep a listing of lost and found pets at our office, and it is also posted on our blog link. the Canine Control Officer picks up stray dogs, but not stray cats.
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Melrose Humane Society (781) 662 - 3224 |
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Barking, Unleashed or Nuisance Dogs and Dog Bites
Problems with dogs are first and foremost a problem with neighbors. Like any other neighborhood issue, the preferred solution is for the concerned parties resolve the problem together. It is possible that your neighbor may not be aware that their dog's barking is bothersome to you, or they may already be trying to solve the problem. A friendly conversation bringing up your concerns may be more appreciated than a visit from a city official. If your efforts at friendly resolution are unsuccessful, or if you aren't comfortable approaching your neighbor for any reason, please contact Canine Control. Please click here if you are having trouble with your own dog barking.
Dog bites - please report dog bites as soon as possible to Canine Control. Provide your contact information, the owner's information and a description of the dog. This information is needed so that the dog can be quarantined for 10 days, per state law. In almost all cases, the dog is allowed to stay at its home, so do not hesitate to report a dog bite for fear that the pet will be taken from its family.
Sick or Injured Animals
For an injured or sick pet, attempt to contact the animal's owner. If this is not possible, the pet can be brought to a local veterinarian. After regular hours, the closest 24-hour veterinarian is Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn at (781) 932-5802.
Injured or sick wildlife? Please contact Melrose Canine Control. Note: seeing wildlife out in the daytime, by itself, is not a sign of illness.
Wildlife calls are numerous… raccoons in the yard or out during the day, skunks setting up camp under a porch, birds trapped in buildings, turtles crossing from local ponds, wild turkeys parading across town, squirrels running rampant in an attic…
Although the Canine Control Officer is sensitive to all issues regarding animals either domestic or wild, it is not within the scope of her legal authority to respond to or resolve issues dealing with wildlife on private property. There are agencies to call when faced with wildlife problems. Please refer to the links provided to find the agency that can best handle the problem.
In the case of an emergency, please contact this office and the Canine Control Officer will make every effort to assist as best she can until the proper authority is contacted.
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MA Wildlife - has list of licensed problem animal control agents |
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- For wild animals on City streets or property, the Public Works Department needs to be notified.
- For domestic animals on City streets or property, contact Melrose Canine Control.
- A dead animal on private property should be disposed of by the property owner. Using gloves, double bag the animal and either place it in your trash or bring it to the City Yard.
| Links of Interest | National Wildlife Federation |
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The Catmobile low-cost spay/neuter van comes to Melrose monthly. Click here for more information. |