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1. What number do I call for Animal Control?

208-465-2257

2. I lost my dog, what should I do?

Call the non-emergency dispatch phone number (208-465-2257) to report your dog as lost. Give a description of the dog to dispatch. Post on Craigslist Boise in the Lost and found section, as well as on various forms of social media, such as Facebook lost and found pet pages, and NextDoor Neighbor.  Make sure you leave a contact numbers and list the area that the dog was lost from. Contact the West Valley Humane Society (208-455-5920) to file a lost dog report, and go there to see if your dog has been brought in.

3. My neighbor’s dogs are chewing on our shared fence. I am afraid they may get in my yard.

Property damaged by a pet is generally considered negligence, rather than criminal, and thus payment to repair damage is a civil matter. If you fear the neighbor’s dog(s) getting into your yard, try fortifying your side of the fence to prevent them from doing so. Animal Control can also discuss options with your neighbors on ways to keep their dog(s) on their property. Until a dog has actually left its yard or injured another animal or human, charges generally are not able to be brought against its owner, i.e. no criminal laws have been broken.

4. How many dogs am I permitted to own?

Nampa City Code 6-2-20A(h) states that only two dogs over the age of six months are permitted per house in the City of Nampa. If you desire to own more than two dogs, you will have to apply for a Kennel License at Nampa City Hall Planning and Zoning (411 3rd St S; 208-468-5484).

5. When you catch a dog, what do you do with it?

When Animal Control picks up a dog, we scan it for a microchip. If the dog has a chip and the information is current, we try to bring the  dog home. If the dog has no form of identification on it, we bring it to the West Valley Humane Society (5801 Graye Ln, Caldwell). The shelter will hold on to the dog for a set number of days, giving the owners a chance to claim the dog, before putting it up for adoption.

6. I cannot keep my dog any more; will Animal Control take it to the Shelter for me?

No. It is the responsibility of the dog owner to take their dog to the Shelter and sign it over, i.e. owner surrender.

7. My neighbor’s dogs are barking and it is driving me crazy.

When you have located the address of the barking dogs, contact Nampa Animal Control and we can go out and talk to the dog owner to suggest ways to fix the problem. If it is an ongoing issue, the following is required in order for someone to sign a citation for nuisance noise (Nampa code 6-2-24):

• Start a barking dog log to record the date and times that the dogs are barking; 
• Record the barking from your own property showing the offending dog(s) barking without any other dogs barking in the area throughout the video;
• Be able to describe what the offending dog(s) look like; and
• Show proof or be able to articulate how many times you have attempted to address the barking issue with your neighbor, i.e. phone calls, emails, letters, etc.

Be sure to leave your contact information so that Animal Control can contact you, if anything behind a warning is desired.

8. Are any breeds banned from Nampa?

No. All dog breeds are permitted in the City of Nampa. If you have questions about bully breeds, refer to the Bully Breeds Brochure by Animal Control for more information.

9. I want to call about an animal problem, but I am afraid of retaliation from the people I am calling on. Do you give out our contact information?

No, we do not share the reporting party’s information to the people that we are sent to talk to. If you decide to sign a citation against someone, they will know who you are, but may not harass or approach you about the matter.

10. Does Animal Control pick up cats?

We only pick up cats that are sick or injured for humane euthanasia.

11. There are so many cats in my neighborhood since my neighbor feeds them. They destroy my garden and spray my house. What can I do?

There is no limit to how many cats a person may own in the City of Nampa.  If you are having nuisance cat problems, refer to the West Valley Humane Society website regarding their Community Cat Program.

12. Are roosters allowed in Nampa?

No. Nampa City Code prohibits roosters inside city limits, due to the related noise issues.

13. There are raccoons/foxes/rock chucks, etc in my yard/under my house/trailer. Can Animal Control catch them?

Animal Control usually handles domesticated animals. We recommend contacting a local trapper to come and catch wildlife to relocate it.

14. Where can I find a list of the animal-related laws for Nampa?

All City of Nampa animal control ordinances are listed on the internet here. Idaho state animal laws can also be found online on the State of Idaho Legislature statutes and titles webpage.

15. I just moved to Nampa and have dogs. What do I need to know?

All dogs within Nampa city limits are required to have a Nampa City Dog License (per City Ordnance 6-2-20). There are discounts for Senior Citizens (over 65 years of age), if the dog is microchipped, and if the dog is spayed/neutered. Evidence is required to show proof that the discount option has been met. I.E., driver's license or legal I.D., veterenarian records showing spay/neuter, and rabies vaccination status. All dogs in Nampa are requiered to have a current rabies vaccination.

Note: underground electric fences do not qualify as an enclosure/fence under the definition of “enclosure” in Nampa Ordnance (Definitions: 6-2-1).