Animal Field Services

How to License Your Dog or Cat

Every dog and cat living in the City of Cabot and over the age of 4 months must be licensed.

You can purchase your Cabot dog and cat license at the Animal Shelter, 2951 S. First St. during lobby business hours, which is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 pm or via phone during regular business hours from 8am to 5pm. More information.

You must provide proof of current rabies vaccination and, if applicable, a veterinarian certificate of spay or neuter. Spayed or neutered dog and cat licenses are reduced price ($5 per year spayed/neutered, $15 per year not spayed/neutered)

Citations

The Cabot Animal Support Service Officers issues two types of citations.

1. Cabot Animal Support Services Warning Citation:

The role of the administrative “warning” citation is to give violators a chance to cure their violations without financial penalty. 

We believe that public education and community support are generally all that is needed to help our community become a more humane community with an emphasis on animal welfare, public safety, and the promotion of the human/animal bond.

2. City of Cabot District Court Citations:

The role of the District Court Citation is to give violators a strong financial incentive to cure their violations when education fails or is not an option, based on the circumstances surrounding the officer’s visit. 

Once Citation is issued:

1. Work with officers to correct the violation to ensure additional citations are not issued.
2. Decide if you want to pay fine or appear at your court hearing.
   1. If you decide to pay your fine then take your citations to the Cabot District Court, located in the City Annex building at 208 N. 1^st Cabot, Arkansas.
      • The amount of your fine is set by the Cabot District court based on the Cabot Municipal Code allowances for your violation. You can call the Cabot District Court at 501-843-8908 to get the exact amount owed before you go.  Please allow 72 hours for the processing of the citation before you call.
      • The entire Cabot Municipal Code may be viewed at https://library.municode.com/ar/cabot/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICOOR_CH4AN
   2. If you decide to appear at your court hearing be aware that the first court date is a plea date, where you will simply tell the judge if you wish to enter a plea of guilty, nonguilty, or no contest.
      • If you enter a plea of guilty or no contest the judge will render verdict based on that plea and assign appropriate fine.
      • If you enter a plea of not guilty the courts will set another date for you to appear in court for the trial.
3. If you fail to appear at your scheduled date then the Cabot District Judge can order the court to issue a failure to appear warrant for arrest, suspend your drivers license, and apply additional fines.

Animal Field Services handles dangerous and vicious dogs in the City of Cabot. Call Cabot Animal Field Services at 501-843-2021 if a dog seems dangerous.  If the dog is threatening, call 9-1-1.

Call Animal Field Services if a person has been attacked, bitten, or scratched by a domestic or wild animal and emergency care is not needed.  If the person needs emergency care, call 9-1-1. City of Cabot Citizens should call 501-843-2021 for all animal services issues.

All animal bites must be reported to Animal Field Services per Arkansas Law.

Owners of dogs involved in bite cases must provide a current rabies vaccination certificate to Animal Field Services. If the animal is not currently vaccinated or if the vaccination status is unknown, the animal will be placed in quarantine and observed by a veterinarian.

Animals that are currently vaccinated and that were restrained at the time the bite occurred qualify for home observation.

The Department is responsible for making sure that animals are cared for properly in their environments (pet shops, grooming parlors, etc.).

Our Animal Field Services Officers are responsible for inspecting dog and cat kennels, pet shops, grooming parlors, animal exhibition events, animal menageries, and mobile groomers.  They also inspect facilities with guard dogs, circuses, and establishments that require a conditional use permit.  When necessary, they issue orders to comply and/or citations to appear in court to enforce city ordinances.

This division has the responsibility of conducting inspections annually and additionally as situations arise.  The officers works closely with Cabot Animal Support Services staff as well as with the City of Cabot Police, Fire, and Public Works’ Department and State agencies such as the Arkansas Department of Health and Arkansas Department of Game and Fish.  Staff takes a proactive approach to ensure the health and safety of animals by inspecting unlicensed and licensed animal businesses within our jurisdictions and enforcing all applicable ordinances and laws.

It is part of our mission to help people and animals live harmoniously together in their community.  Nevertheless, there are times when certain behaviors disrupt residents’ peaceful enjoyment of their homes and property.  Listed below are some common community nuisance issues involving pets, and information regarding the applicable laws and ordinances that address them.

1. Excessive Noise. It is unlawful for an owner or custodian of an animal to allow the animal to excessively bark. For purposes of this section, the term “excessive barking” means a noise that is unreasonably annoying, disturbing, offensive, or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property.
2. Complaints. All complaints to the Department regarding violations of subdivision A. must be made in writing, signed under penalty of perjury, and must include the name, address, and telephone number of the complainant(s), as well as the address of the animal owner or custodian and a description of the noise, including the date(s) and approximate times of the excessive noise.
3. Violations.
   1. First Violation. The Department will issue a written notice to the owner or custodian of the animal advising of the noise complaint, after it receives a written complaint of excessive noise based on verifiable information. The notice will order the owner or custodian to abate the excessive noise within 10 days of the notice (“compliance date”).
   2. Second Violation. The Department will issue a written citation. A second violation occurs if the animal owner or custodian fails to stop the excessive noise by the compliance date. A second violation is an infraction punishable by a citation with a minimum fine of $100.
   3. Third Violation. A third violation occurs after a second violation if the animal owner or custodian fails to stop the excessive noise within 10 days after the notice of the second violation is issued.The Department will issue a second written citation. A third violation is an infraction punishable by a minimum fine of $250.
   4. Fourth and subsequent Violations. The Department will issue a written citation. Each subsequent violation after the third violation within one year of the original complaint is an additional citation punishable by a minimum fine of $500 and a mandatory appearance in court.

Animal Noise Complaint Process

Excessive accumulation of animal waste on a pet owner’s property creates unsanitary conditions that are offensive to neighbors and unsafe for people and pets.  Pet owners who fail to pick up waste deposited by their pets while on walks also contribute to unsanitary conditions for others.  Pet owners are required by City Municipal Code to ensure their pets are not a nuisance to others.  This includes regularly removing and disposing of pet waste from one’s private property as well as removing and discarding their pet’s waste that has been deposited on others’ property as well as public property.

The City Municipal Code requires that dogs be restrained on a substantial leash by a person capable of controlling the dog while on public property or commons areas of private property.  It is unlawful to allow dogs to run at large.  Allowing dogs to run loose is extremely dangerous for them.  Dogs at large may be hit by cars, attacked by other animals, or exposed to dangerous substances such as poisons.  Unsterilized dogs at large will breed with other unsterilized dogs and create more unwanted pets in the community.  Pet owners are encouraged to be responsible and ensure their pets are safely restricted to their personal property.

While the City of Cabot recognizes the Community Cat environment for cats, cat owners are still prohibited from allowing their cats to be nuisances to others.  Sometimes, free-roaming cats trespass onto other peoples’ properties, using flower beds or sandboxes for litter boxes.  This causes unsanitary conditions and is unlawful. 

The City of Cabot Animal Field Services (“Animal Field Services”) exists to rescue and protect animals, consistent with the need to protect citizens against imminent threats to public health and safety.  To that end, Animal Field Services shall educate and inform the public regarding coexistence with wildlife.  Animal Field Services shall not trap, relocate, or kill any healthy wildlife, nor shall it aid or assist any person in such activity.  Animal Field Service Staff will no longer provide traps for any type of animal. Animal Field Services Staff will continue to educate the public with alternatives and address any concerns that may arise on a case by case basis.

Nothing in this policy shall preclude the rescue and immediate release of an animal, nor change current practice with regard to the handling of sick, suffering, or dead animals or animals which pose an imminent threat to public health or safety.

Should you encounter a sick or injured wild animal, do not approach or handle the animal. Please contact us immediately.  NEVER TOUCH A BAT!

• Wildlife Information (PDF)
• Be Coyote Aware (PDF)

Skunks, raccoons, opossums, (and in some cases bears) are nocturnal or nighttime active animals and are often attracted to residential areas by the availability of food, water, and shelter.  Removing or eliminating the availability of these elements will often encourage these animals to leave.

Remove unused pet food and water bowls at night.

Keep tight fitting lids on garbage cans or store garbage inside a secure area. Do not store trash in trash bags outdoors.

Gardens should be harvested frequently and windfall fruit picked up.

Keep pet access doors locked in the evening.

Seal up entry holes in and under buildings, eaves, air ducts, and decks.

1. Slotted metal vent covers are preferable to screen wire in keeping wild animals from entering houses through foundation vents.
2. Backyard decks have proven to be extremely attractive shelters for wild animals. Smaller animals may be excluded by using 1/4″ grid screening or solid metal flashing. Trench around the perimeter of the deck a minimum of 12 inches deep, insert screening in trench and backfill. Attach top of screening to facade of deck with nails or fence post staples.  This technique may also be used along fence lines to prevent wild animals from entering yards or gardens. 
3. Before completing final seal on the last entry point on a building or deck, it is wise to make sure no animals are trapped inside. Sprinkle flour around the entrance holes and check for tracks the following morning. If no tracks are evident for three consecutive nights, no animals are likely present.

Wild animals causing lawn and turf damage may be encouraged to leave by controlling grub worms and other subsoil insects. 

1. Chemicals to control these insects may be obtained at hardware or garden supply stores.
2. Remember the safety of your pets when dealing with chemicals.

Wild animals may be kept away from roof areas by trimming tree branches 10 feet from roof and by keeping climbing plants trimmed away from roof area and eaves.

Food and water should never be intentionally left out for wild animals.

Arkansas is subject to many types of natural disasters such as tornadoes, wildfires, and floods.  Local emergencies such as power outages, chemical spills, or other events can also disrupt normal activities. Being prepared for these situations will help you protect your pet.

The City of Cabot and the Cabot Animal Support Services Department is prepared to respond to most disasters within our service area. We have Mutual Assistance Agreements with other agencies at the local, county, and state level.

The primary goals of our Animal Emergency Response are

• To minimize animal suffering and loss of life
• To protect the health and safety of the public throughout the City
• To provide for the immediate care, control and safety of animals
• To provide care and shelter for displaced animals when their owners may have to be housed at a temporary shelter
• To provide a system for identifying and reuniting animals with their owners after an emergency event.

It is estimated that more than half of City of Cabot households include domestic animals. Any natural or manmade disaster may result in potential public health and safety threats and may cause the displacement and evacuation of large numbers of people and their animals. To help ease the anxiety (of both the pet and pet owner) during these times, the Department utilizes rescue and housing methods conducive to retaining the human/animal bond necessary to the health of the animal and their human counterparts.

Every dog owner in the City of Cabot is responsible for knowing the City’s rules and regulations governing both owner and animal behavior.  Given below is our “Quick Guide to Owning a Dog in Cabot.”

• No owner/guardian or keeper of a dog shall allow or permit a dog to be or run at large in or upon any public place or premises unless such dog is securely restrained by a substantial leash. Exception is granted while within designated City of Cabot Dog Parks.  The provisions of this section shall not apply to dogs being used by disabled individuals as service animals where off leash is required to perform such tasks.
• It is unlawful for any person to permit any dog to be in or upon any public playground or park maintained by the City unless such dog is securely restrained by a substantial leash.Exception is granted while within designated City of Cabot Dog Parks.  The provisions of this section shall not apply to dogs being used by disabled individuals as service animals where off leash is required to perform such tasks.
• Any person having custody of a dog while on public or private property, not owned by the owner shall at all times carry an instrument suitable for removing and disposing of feces which may be deposited by said dog and shall remove any such feces deposited by such dog while on such property.
• Every dog over the age of four months must be licensed and must wear the license.
• It is unlawful for any person to keep on any one premises, owned or occupied by him, more than four dogs or cats (any combination greater than four) over the age of four months.
• The entire Cabot Municipal Code may be viewed at https://library.municode.com/ar/cabot/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICOOR_CH4AN, including care requirements for dogs housed or left outdoors on private premises and prohibitions regarding animal noise or nuisance.

Every dog owner in the City of Cabot is responsible for knowing the City’s rules and regulations governing both owner and animal behavior.  Given below is our “Quick Guide to Owning a Cat in Cabot.”

• No owner/guardian or keeper of a cat shall allow or permit a cat to be or run at large in or upon any public place or premises unless such cat is sterilized, vaccinated against the rabies virus, ear tipped, licensed, and microchipped.
• Every cat over the age of four months must be licensed.  
• It is unlawful for any person to keep on any one premises, owned or occupied by him, more than four cats and dogs (any combination greater than four) over the age of four months.
• The entire Cabot Municipal Code may be viewed at https://library.municode.com/ar/cabot/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICOOR_CH4AN, including care requirements for cats housed or left outdoors on private premises and prohibitions regarding animal noise or nuisance.