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ACCT Services
PSPCA > About ACCT > ACCT Services

ACCT is charged with enforcing the City of Philadelphia animal control code. To contact ACCT about these services, call 267-385-3800 or email ACCT@pspca.org.

Lost Pets

If you have lost a pet, ACCT and the PSPCA are here to help. Lost reports are taken 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the E-ACCT Lost Pets Report Form. If you have lost a pet, visit the PSPCA Philadelphia Adoption Center at 350 E. Erie Avenue and the ACCT Operational Center at 111 W. Hunting Park Avenue to see if your pet has been picked up.

Dog Licensing

Philadelphia and Pennsylvania both require dogs four months of age and older to be licensed. Dog licenses benefit you and your dog. Here's how:

  • Your dog’s tag is his ticket home if he is lost, stolen or separated from you during an emergency. Licensed dogs picked up by animal control are held for at least five days while efforts are made to contact you. Unlicensed dogs are only required to be held at the shelter for 48 hours.
  • Dog records help keep you safe from exposure to sick or infected dogs, especially in cases of possible exposure to rabies.
  • Licenses help ensure the health and safety of your dog at Philadelphia’s dog runs and city parks.
  • Discounted license fees for altered dogs promote spaying and neutering, which helps control pet overpopulation and reduces the number of stray dogs roaming the streets.
  • The fee you pay to license your dog funds Philadelphia’s humane law enforcement, animal care and control, and lifesaving programs, which makes the city a better place to live for you AND your pet.

For more information on applying for a dog license, visit E-ACCT.

Animal Bites and Rabies

Owners of dogs and cats three months of age or older are required by law to have a current rabies vaccination. ACCT will seize, detain, care for, maintain quarantine, evaluate and send for testing (if necessary) any animal having rabies (or suspected of having rabies) or any animal that has bitten a person(s). For more information on rabies, visit http://www.phila.gov/health/units/ddc/pdf/Rabies-web.pdf. For information on animal bites and what to do if you are bitten, visit http://www.phila.gov/health/units/ehs/pdf/Animal_Bite1.pdf. Report a bite case via the E-ACCT Animal Bite Report Form.

Animal Surrender

To surrender an animal to ACCT, complete the E-ACCT Animal Surrender Report Form.

The ACCT Operations Center at 111 W. Hunting Park Avenue is open for animal surrenders seven days a week.

Stray Intake

The public can report stray animals and packs of dogs to ACCT to have an animal control officer dispatched to the scene for pick-up via the E-ACCT Stray Animals Report Form. ACCT's animal control officers will patrol areas in question, initiate inquiries and report findings in a timely manner.

The public can also drop off stray animals to the ACCT shelter at 111 W. Hunting Park Avenue 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Wild Animals

ACCT will capture wild animals at the request of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. A licensed wildlife trapper will deal with these animals in an appropriate and humane manner in accordance with state and federal laws. Report a wild animal in your neighborhood via the E-ACCT Wild Animals Report Form.

Complaints and Nuisances

ACCT will respond to animal-related complaints within 48 hours by conducting physical site visits. These complaints include animal nuisances (e.g., barking dogs), animal waste violations, illegal animals (e.g., chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, alligators, and venomous reptiles and snakes), pigeon feeding, carriage horse issues or dogs running at large. In the City of Philadelphia, it is illegal to allow your dog to roam off leash. For more information on Philadelphia's animal control codes, visit http://www.phila.gov/Health/Commissioner/FAQ/EHSPetsFAQ.html. Report a violation via the E-ACCT Violation Report Form.

Horse Carriage Enforcement

ACCT is responsible for enforcing Philadelphia's horse carriage regulations. These regulations include ensuring that horses are not working when the temperature is above 91 degrees Fahrenheit or the wind chill is below 26 degrees Fahrenheit; have at least 15 minutes of rest for every hour of pulling a carriage; have sufficient food and water and that they are permitted to eat and drink while working; and receive regular veterinary care. Report a horse carriage violation via the E-ACCT Violation Report Form.

Animal and Debris Removal

ACCT will remove animals from the premises of deceased, evicted, hospitalized or incarcerated persons or from burned-out, condemned, vacant, or abandoned buildings. ACCT will also make provisions for removal and disposal of animal and food wastes, bedding, dead animals, and debris. Schedule a pick-up via the E-ACCT Animal and Debris Removal Form.