Our Mission

Our mission is to provide services that will ensure public health and safety, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, to measurably reduce companion animal overpopulation, and to take a leadership role in promoting humane values for the benefit of all animals.

General Information

Animal Services Officers are on duty 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To report a dead animal or a stray animal in your possession, call (816) 325-7205.

For all other issues concerning animals running loose, animal bites, dangerous animals, or to report an unrestrained pit bull dog, call (816) 325-7852 during reqular business hours.

Need Speakers / Presenters?

Animal Services staff are available to speak at your club, organization, public event, or neighborhood association meeting. If you would like to schedule a speaker for a particular topic or problem in the neighborhood, please call (816) 325-7211.

Donations

If you would like to make a donation towards building a new shelter, submit your donation to the Independence Animal Shelter Building Fund. If you prefer your donation go directly towards extras for the animals, make the donation to Friends of the Shelter.

Come Visit Us!

We are located off Truman Road, less than a quarter of a mile east of the M-291 and Truman Road intersection in Independence, MO.

City of Independence, Missouri
Animal Services Division
P.O. Box 1019
875 Vista Avenue
Independence, MO 64056

(816) 325 - 7207

Hours of Operations

After Hour Emergencies

We respond to unrestrained BITE dogs only. Contact the Independence Police Department at 9-1-1 and they will page the on-call officer. If not an emergency, Notify Animal Services.

Barking Dogs

City Ordinance prohibits a dog causing annoyance to any person by loud and frequent barking, howling, yelping, growling or any other noise. To file a complaint about a barking dog.

Legal Limit

Any combination of four dogs or cats over the age of six months is allowed.

Cat Trap Usage

The Animal Shelter will provide you with a trap for cats. You will be required to bring the trapped animals to the Shelter. The trap must be returned to the Shelter at the end of the seven days in good working condition. An $80 fee is charged if the cage is damaged.

Wildlife Issues

Animal Control does not handle wildlife. We recommend that you contact a Wildlife Company such as Animal Damage Control by Trapper John at (816) 254-0067 to have wildlife removed from your property. You may also find help at www.wildlifehotline.com.

Pit Bull Ownership

Pit bulls are only allowed in the city limits if they were registered before August 28, 2006. No new pit bulls are allowed to register after this date.

Animal Claim Fee

• Unaltered means not spayed or neutered.
• Altered means they are spayed or neutered and proof can be provided by a licensed veterinarian.
• Persons claiming their dog or cat from the Shelter will be charged an $80 impoundment fee per animal plus a $15 boarding fee for dogs and $10 boarding fee for cats each day housed at the Shelter.
• The first time your dog is impounded it will also be micro-chipped at a cost of $10.
• The owner must pay for any medical treatment required for their pet. This includes vaccinations administered on intake.
• On the second conviction for being unrestrained, dogs are spayed/neutered, and owners must pay surgery and impoundment fees.
• On the third conviction, dogs will not be returned.

Citations

If Animal Services has impounded your animal, you will receive a citation for Animal Running at Large. City Ordinance requires all animals be properly restrained within a securely fenced yard or on a chain or leash. They are never to be unrestrained.

Shelter Adoption Hours

Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(816) 325-7207

Through cooperative agreements with local veterinarians, all animals adopted from the Independence Animal Shelter are spay/neutered before being released to their new home. All adopted animals will require a series of vaccinations after they go home. Adult dogs and cats should receive a second Distemper combo booster vaccination two weeks after they were vaccinated at the Shelter. Talk to your vet about these.

Please note: Our vaccinations do not contain Corona, and your veterinarian may suggest you vaccinate against those viruses.

Helpful Links

• Happy Tails
• Who is a better fit for your family?
• Which cat is right for me?
• Which dog is right for me?

• The Hoof N' Hound Walking Program
• Dart -- Animals in Disaster!
• The Animals Volunteer Program
• Memorial Fund
• Ditched Video
• White Collar Video