Frequently Asked Questions

Some city parks have designated areas where a dog can be off-leash. Contact Missoula Parks & Recreation to learn which parks allow off-leash dogs, and where dogs must be leashed. Reach Parks & Recreation by telephone at (406) 552-7275, or

Missoula Animal Control needs your help to enforce animal laws. Incidents can be reported to Animal Control by telephone at 541-7387. Providing information about a person, such as a name, phone number, a license plate number, is helpful when known. Reports can be made outside of working hours as voice messages are monitored.

The City and the County require dogs to be licensed.

It depends on whether or not your dog is spayed or neutered.

Call (406) 541-7387 or stop by the Animal Control office located at 6700 Butler Creek Road.

First talk to the dog owner and work it out between neighbors. If that doesn't work, call Animal Control at 541-7387. Learn more about nuisance barking in Title 6 of

Call Animal Control and the Humane Society to give them your pet's description. Then contact the Missoulian to put a lost pet ad in the newspaper for three days free of charge. Post flyers in your neighborhood. And most important, don’t give up hope for animals. They are reunited with their owners long after they have been lost.

All stray animals from Missoula County are accepted by the shelter. Animal Control cannot accept animals outside of the county, but they can be taken to the Humane Society. If the Humane Society is closed, Animal Control will accept out-of-county animals space permitting, or for the welfare of the animal.

Take the animal to Pruyn Veterinary Hospital, 2501 Russell, located behind the Fairgrounds. The phone number is (406) 829-8150.

Yes, all dogs living within the Missoula County limits must be licensed through Animal Control.

No, cats do not have to be licensed.

Yes, Animal Control adopts animals to qualified homes. Contact Animal Control at 541-7387 or drop by the office at 6700 Butler Creek Road.

If it is an emergency, call 911 and an officer will respond. The 24-hour, non-emergency Police Desk phone number is (406) 552-6300 for city residents. Missoula County residents should contact the Sheriff's Office at (406) 258-4810 during normal working hours, or call 911 after hours.

First call Animal Control at 541-7387. If Animal Control personnel are not available, notify the City Police or the County Sheriff. If it is an emergency, call 911 and an officer will respond. The 24-hour, non-emergency Police Desk phone number is (406) 552-6300 for city residents. Missoula County residents should contact the Sheriff's Office at (406) 258-4810 during normal working hours, or call 911 after hours.

Contact Information Office (406) 541-7387 Fax (406) 541-7389 email: animalcontrol@co.missoula.mt.us Location and mailing address: Animal Control 6700 Butler Creek Road Missoula, MT 59808