In the case of an emergency or weekends and holidays, call the Mathews County Sheriff’s office at 804-725-7177 and the dispatcher will take your report and dispatch the appropriate authority.

If you have routine questions or concerns please call our Animal Control office during normal business hours Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.  During normal business hours you can call 804-725-7172, option 5 for the office. 

Mathews County Animal Control is for the protection and management of licensed companion animals and for the protection of domestic animals (livestock). Animal Control Officers are knowledgeable of the animal control and protection laws of Virginia and the County’s ordinances they are required to enforce. They have the power to issue summonses or obtain felony warrants as necessary in the process of enforcing these laws and ordinances.

Complaints

Animal Control Officers answer Mathews County citizens’ calls regarding animal complaints in a timely and professional manner with documentation of each complaint. Upon taking or obtaining custody of an animal on behalf of society, they immediately make a record of that matter.

Required Documentation

Such documentation includes:

• The date on which the animal was taken into custody
• The date record made
• A description of the animal including the animal’s species, color, breed, sex, approximate age, and approximate weight
• The reason for taking custody of the animal and the location where custody was taken
• The name and address of the animal’s owner, if known
• Any license or rabies tag, tattoo, collar, or other identification number carried by or appearing on the animal
• The disposition of the animal

Report Animal Incident

To report an animal incident, such as an animal bite, an animal missing, an animal in distress or being neglected please call the County Sheriff’s office dispatch at 804-725-7177. Dispatch will take your report and contact the Animal Control Officer on duty. 

Strays

All stray animals are kept in accordance with the following State guidelines
Strays without a collar or identification are kept 5 days (the first day is not counted). Strays with a collar but without identification are kept 10 days (the first day is not counted).

Humane Shelter

The Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society (Shelter) is located at:

6620 Jackson Lane
Gloucester, VA 23061

Their phone number is 804-693-5520. Visit the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society website . To obtain information and/or set up an appointment to visit the shelter if you are missing your animal, please call the shelter directly.

Wildlife Matters

For all matters related to wildlife, please visit the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website. There you will also find information on wild animal trapping services.