| What are your hours of operation? |
| The shelter is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:30AM to 6PM. Saturday we open at 10AM and close at 5PM. |
| What is your adoption policy? |
| Residents of the Town of Brookhaven have first preference, but non-residents may also adopt. All dogs adopted receive bordatella and a 4 in 1 vaccine, cats receive a 3 in 1, all animals are spayed/neutered, licensed, and given a rabies inoculation before leaving the shelter. |
| What do you have to do to sign over an animal? |
| A Dog/Cat Surrender Form and a Personality Profile Sheet is filled out on the animal. The fee to surrender a dog for adoption is $25.00. If you want an Animal Control Officer to pick up your dog at your house, the surrender fee is $45.00. To surrender a cat the fee is $10.00. To pick up an owner’s deceased animal is $45.00. |
| What is the purpose of a NYS dog license? Why do I need one? |
| NY State requires every dog over the age of 4 months to be licensed. A license tag on a dog’s neck is a form of identification and helps in finding your dog if the dog ever gets lost. |
| Why do we spay/neuter a dog when we adopt? |
| The Town of Brookhaven requires that every dog/cat leaving the animal shelter be spayed or neutered to help control the stray dog/cat population. |
| What is the appearance ticket for? |
| Appearance tickets are issued for violations against Chapter 23 of the Town of Brookhaven code, e.g. dog running at large, unlicensed dog, and unidentified dog (not wearing tag). The issuance of these tickets will assist in preventing dog owners from letting their dog run at large. |
| How do I look for my lost pet? |
If you have lost your pet, the first step is to check The Brookhaven Animal Shelter's Lost & Found section of the website. Note: The Shelter web site is updated periodically. Not all lost animals in the facility are listed at all times.
You must come to the shelter yourself, to identify your pet. Shelter employees cannot identify your pet, only you can do that. If your pet is licensed, bring proof of licensing and rabies when you come to redeem your pet. Other options are to contact your local vet or other animal shelters. |
| What can I do about a vicious/dangerous dog in my area? |
| If you or a family member has been threatened by an aggressive dog you should call the shelter and ask that an Animal Control Officer be sent to take an report and advise you on the procedure for taking the dog owner to court on a dangerous dog complaint. The officer will either apprehend the dog or advise the dog owner of the penalties that he may be subject to. |
| What do I do if someone’s dog bites me? |
| The responding officer takes a report from the dog bite victims with all necessary information about the incident and that report is kept at the Shelter for use by the Suffolk County Health Dept. And/or Brookhaven Town Attorneys Office if the biting victim wants to process a Dangerous Dog Proceeding with the court. |
| How many dogs are people allowed to own? |
| Residents of the Town of Brookhaven are permitted to harbor ten (10) dogs. |
| Who can I complain to regarding a barking dog? |
| Barking dog complaints can be made to the Town’s Noise Control Department by calling 286 1813. |
| I am thinking about getting a pet for someone as a gift, is it a good idea? |
If you are a parent adopting for your underage child, remember that you are ultimately responsible for this pets care. Are you ready, willing, and able if the child loses interest in the pet? If you are adopting as a gift for your child, it can be a wonderful experience for your entire family. Pet ownership can also be a valuable lesson to all in patience, compassion, and responsibility.
It is never a good idea to give a surprise gift to friends or family outside of your immediate household. This lifelong commitment should be one that they are involved in. |
| What breeds will I find when I come down there? |
| Although we have a wide variety of breeds, you will always find a wide selection of mixed breeds. Our selection changes everyday. |
| I’m allergic; can I still have a pet? |
| Yes, although most cats will aggravate your allergies, there are several different varieties of dogs that won’t. Many people with allergies can tolerate certain breeds such as a poodle or poodle mix because they have hair instead of fur. Other people may not be able to own a pet at all. It is always a good idea to speak to your physician or allergist before acquiring a pet. |