A vicious animal is an animal that, although unprovoked, has aggressively attacked another animal or person, and inflicted serious injury. A dangerous animal is an animal that poses the potential danger of attack on another animal or person. A vicious animal report requires immediate action and a dangerous animal report requires a permanent solution to alleviate the danger. A vicious animal report may result in dangerous animal procedures.
Who is Responsible for Investigation:
Your local Animal Control agency
Click here for list of
Animal Control Agencies
in Los Angeles County
Information Necessary to Process the Request:
- Resident's name, address and telephone number.
- Address or location where problem or attack took place.
- Nature of problem or attack.
- Name, address, and telephone number of the person bitten or attacked.
- Name, address and telephone number of the animal owner, if known.
Description of Process:
- The shelter staff receives and logs the call and determines the severity of attack to person or animal.
- The shelter staff will dispatch paramedics if needed.
- The shelter staff will determine if a hazard exists.
- The shelter staff radios the call to the radio control center.
- The radio control center dispatches the information to a field unit.
- The Animal Control Officer at the site will take the appropriate actions as required by law and Departmental policy.
Time Involved: This generally is the Department's highest priority of call and receives immediate action.
Additional Information: The person reporting the animal bite will be requested to also report the attack to the Veterinary Public Health at
562-401-7088.
