Animal Control Services
Effective July 1, 2023, the County of Hawaiʻi has created an Animal Control and Protection Agency (ACPA). The county, not the police department, now houses and performs animal control services island wide.
Call Priority
Priority 1
1 hour response time, qualifies for after-hours field response.
Priority 2
Same day response, DOES NOT qualify for after-hours response.
Priority 3
Same day contact with reporting party, delayed field response.
Who to Call
For Animal Emergencies (Priority 1)
Call dispatch: (808) 935-3311
For Lost / Found Pets & Non-emergencies (Priority 2)
Call Hawaiʻi County Animal Control and Protection Agency at (808) 327-3558.
Priority 3
See table below.
Common Types of Calls
| If | Then | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Person encounters loose dog in road that is a public safety risk | Contact dispatch and ask them to relay info to Animal Control. | Priority 1 |
| Person encounters any injured animal | Determine species and safety risk level, (down cow in highway vs. dog hit by car, vs. cat with hair loss) contact dispatch and ask them to relay info to Animal Control. | Priority 1 |
| Dog is immediate threat to safety (i.e. dog just bit someone) | Determine location, contact dispatch and ask them to relay info to Animal Control. | Priority 1 |
| Animal cruelty: immediate threat to animal’s life | Determine location, contact dispatch and ask them to relay info to Animal Control. | Priority 1 |
| Owner arrested/deceased with no family to pick up animal | Determine location, contact dispatch and ask them to relay info to Animal Control. | Priority 1 |
| What to do if person finds a healthy lost animal | Call Hawaiʻi County Animal Control at (808) 327-3558 to arrange for scanning the animal for a microchip. Animal Control staff can then search for a microchip on www.foundanimals.org. If a person is unable to reach Animal control, they can also take the animal to a vet to scan for a microchip. Vets can also search for a microchip on www.foundanimals.org. People are encouraged to secure animal and post it as found on petcolove.org/lost. If the person who found a stray animal cannot keep it, contact Animal Control. | Priority 2 |
| Person loses a pet | People are encouraged to post their lost pet on petcolove.org/lost. People are encouraged to post about lost pet on social media and put up fliers. | Priority 2 |
| Animal cruelty / neglect investigations – NO immediate threat to animal’s life | Determine location, contact dispatch and ask them to relay info to Animal Control. | Priority 3 |
| Dangerous dog – NOT actively a threat | Determine location, contact dispatch and ask them to relay info to Animal Control. | Priority 3 |
| Deceased animals in roadway | If on a county road, call DPW Highways Division: (808) 961-8349. If on state highway/road, call DOT Highways Division: (808) 933-8866. | |
| Cat in trap | County is not accepting trapped cats at this time. |
Unsolved Homicides
Hawaiʻi Police Department believes every victim deserves justice, and that the deceased victim’s family, friends, and community deserve closure.
Please take a moment to review the Unsolved Homicides summaries and if you have any information pertaining to any of these cases, please submit a tip, email us or call our Unsolved Homicides Division at (808) 961-2380 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. Thank you for your help!
