If You Care, Leave It There! It is common to encounter young wildlife that may appear to be unattended during the spring and summer months. In most cases, the best thing you can do is LEAVE THEM ALONE. The adult animal is typically nearby. Deer, for example, will spend most of the day away from their young to reduce the risk of a predator finding them. Only reach out to animal authorities if you observe the young wildlife unattended for more than 24 hours.

Female coyotes give birth in the spring and may become more aggressive due to being territorial if you are in the vicinity of their pups. Should you encounter a coyote while walking your pet, DO NOT RUN. Yelling, loud noises, water hoses, whistles, and throwing objects will scare them away.

Remember our trash is their treasure. Secure garbage cans and remove pet food bowls if you feed your pets outside. Chili powder is non-toxic yet effective for deterring wildlife around your home. Eliminate outdoor water sources.

Parked cars quickly trap the sun’s heat. On a hot day, the temperature inside a closed car can rise as high as 114 degrees. Leaving the windows open a crack doesn’t eliminate the danger of heatstroke, organ damage, or death to your pet. Also, leaving your pet in a hot car could constitute an offense of “Animal Cruelty” under state law. If you come across an animal alone in a car, and the outside temperature is above 70 degrees, please immediately call DeKalb County Animal Enforcement or Police Services.

We encourage citizens to try to speak with their neighbors first before submitting a barking dog complaint. Often times, the owners are not aware their dog is creating a disturbance and are happy to correct the problem without having an authority visit their home.