Animals

Immediately Report cases of animal neglect or cruelty to:

243-5900

To report Dead Animals:

724-5900
choose extension 4.

DOGS

Dog Waste - Private Property

Sometimes people take the attitude that it's their yard and their dog and they don't want to clean up after it. One can choose to do that out in the country if they like but when they live in a city with neighbors who also have rights, they have to clean up after their dog. People are not allowed to inflict flies, odors, unsanitary conditions and vermin on neighbors and it's not good for their dog either. If you've got a neighbor that isn't cleaning up after their dog, register an animal waste complaint by phone with Pima Animal Care Center at (520) 243-5900. They'll tell you what the procedure is after that.

Animal Waste - Public Right of Way

There's ordinances about not cleaning up after your dog but they don't get enforced. This really comes down to common courtesy and doing the right thing . . . Clean up after your dog when needed on public property! End of story. No excuses.

Animal Waste - Bag Dispensers

Anybody interested can create bag dispensers for FREE.

All that is needed is a gallon-size empty milk carton, a few zip/cable ties and empty plastic grocery bags. Cut a good size hole in the front of the milk carton, stuff it with the bags and hang it from a street sign. Viola! Instant FREE dispensers!

Barking Dogs

It's great to have a dog or have a neighbor with a dog that barks when somebody comes round. Nobody minds a dog doing what comes naturally but on occasion, a dog will bark incessantly.

Oftentimes, the owner doesn't even know it's happening. They'd put a quick end to it if they were home!

If you think the neighbor is approachable about this, do so but sometimes it's simply not feasible or prudent to speak with the dog's owner and in that case you will need to contact Pima Animal Care at (520) 243-5900 to begin the complaint process. This can wrap up quickly or become quite a long and drawn-out process.

Dog Miscellaneous

Dogs must be walked on a leash. No exceptions.
Dog must be confined on the owner's property.
Adequate food, water, shelter and shade must be provided.
"Tie-Outs" are prohibited. (Tethering a dog to a stationary object)
Dogs are NEVER to be left alone in a vehicle.
A yellow-ribbon tied to a dog's leash indicates the owner does not want other dogs approaching it. It may be elderly, sick, scared, aggressive, etc.

CATS

Feral Cats

Great strides have been made in Tucson regarding feral cats as we have a FREE program called "TNR" or Trap, Neuter, Release. This is performed through various agencies including the Humane Society.

There's a link below to Hermitage Cat Shelter because you can get a cat trap there. They do want $40 but that is completely refundable when you return the trap. It's just to guarantee you're going to bring their trap back.

Hermitage Cat Shelter

Remember, if you see a cat with a tipped ear, it has already been spayed/neutered!

More on Feral Cats

Cats are one of those animals that are both hunters and hunted.
Just what hunts cats in Dodge Flower? Coyotes
Kittens that have not been introduced and handled by humans by twelve weeks of age, will never "humanize". They will never become your friendly lap cat.
A cat has a natural instinct to hunt and kill prey but if as a kitten it isn't taught to eat the kill by it's mother, it will starve. Do NOT release a humanized cat and simply think it can survive.
Let's all try to do our best to bring the feral cat population down around here. Fewer cats mean fewer coyotes.

ASSORTED ANIMALS

Coyotes

There's coyotes around Dodge Flower -- Even if you don't spot them, they are around.

Do NOT try to be friendly with a coyote! Make yourself big and flail your arms, yell at it to "Go Away!". For the most part, it does not want to bother with you but one never knows if the animal is injured or diseased and they certainly could be far more aggressive and dangerous under those circumstances.

If you want to spot coyotes in the 'hood, go out at around dawn and for a while after that. Sometimes, they can be spotted mid-afternoon even but they're mostly out hunting in the mornings.

Bobcats

Bobcats are an animal we don't think of as being around much and there isn't proof positive that they have been in Dodge Flower but there is plenty of proof they've been spotted in neighborhoods close by.

Be aware that if bobcats are in neighboring neighborhoods, they're likely in Dodge Flower too.

Bobcats are looking for easy food sources including rabbits, lizards, cats and dogs too.

Javelina

These guys are tough and they can inflict serious injury but is it likely? No. Are they common to midtown? Eh. Not really but they can make their way to Dodge Flower.

They usually travel in packs and you're not likely to encounter one (or many!) but if you do, make sure to allow them an escape route and move away. They do not want to attack you -- they want to get on with their own business but because of their VERY poor eyesight can feel threatened. You're not likely to encounter these guys but be very wary if you do.