Animal Control Department
If you have an emergency that cannot wait please call 911
Animal Control is located in the Don Mack Building, 
1587 Jackson Road, (map)
animalcontrol@penfield.org
The Town of Penfield Animal Control department is staffed by one full-time and two part-time animal control officers. An officer is always on call. Officers are responsible for responding to resident calls and enforcing the town's Animal Control Ordinance that defines the rules and responsibilities of dog ownership including leash requirements, barking, improper animal waste disposal and suspected rabies cases. New York State law also requires cats to be vaccinated against rabies. The Animal Control department loans have-a-heart traps to residents. Animal Control Officers also conduct a dog census and assist with licensing. In addition, the Animal Control department provides residents with education on wildlife and domestic animal safety.
Animal Control does not manage wildlife unless an animal is sick, injured or is aggressive. In general, wildlife should be left alone. Issues relating to wildlife should be directed to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 585-226-5380 (also see page 46 of Frontier white pages).
When to call Animal Control
(585)-340-8616
- If you suspect a domestic or wild animal has rabies
- To report animal abuse (or call the Humane Society of Greater Rochester Animal Cruelty/Law Enforcement 24-Hour Hotline at 585-223-6500)
- To report an unleashed dog at large
- To report any violation of the Animal Control Ordinance
- If you have captured a wild animal in a trap (call for special details regarding skunks; there is a limit of five trapped animals per year).
- To request a have-a-heart trap (loaned on Saturdays, call ahead to arrange)
- To request an educational presentation
- To report a lost or found pet
- *Dealing with Resident Feral Cats*
Animal Control update on the deer herd in Penfield
December 2012
Many residents have observed that Penfield’s already large deer herd seems noticeably larger this year. Evidence of this includes an increase of motor vehicle accidents involving deer, local farmers experiencing crop damage and income loss due to deer, and even your own favorite hostas may be chewed down to a nub thanks to hungry deer.
Why so many deer? The population increase is due in part to recent mild winters, a high birth rate, plenty of available food and low mortality due to predation and/or hunting.
If you wish to prevent deer from damaging your plants and property, here are a few deer-deterrent methods (commercial and home remedies) for your consideration:
Home remedies:
- Place wire fencing around freshly planted trees. Fencing needs to be high enough to keep a deer’s long neck from grabbing new buds and wide enough to keep the deer from the plant—but not so wide that the deer will jump into the enclosure.
- Enclose vegetable gardens with a fence at least seven feet high.
- Hang very fragrant shaved soap in gardens or hang in a ventilated bag.
- Place cracked rotten eggs throughout your garden.
- Distribute creosote throughout gardens.
- Place lots of ground garlic or garlic paste to gardens or plants.
- Hang wind chimes throughout your yard and garden.
- Distribute blood meal in areas you wish to protect; deer hate the odor, but so do humans!
- Plant deer resistant plants such as sage, peony, poppy, mock orange and morning glories to name a few.
- Make a mixture of rotten eggs (it helps mixture stick to plants), water, and Tabasco sauce with high concentrate cayenne pepper and garlic paste. Mix four parts water to one egg and blend with the other ingredients until it is fluid enough to be sprayed, then apply to your plants. Reapply each week and following rain.
If you were to search the Internet for “deer deterrents” you would find close to 1.5 million results! That’s a lot of material to sift through; here are a few top recommended sites to make your quest more efficient:
Officers are frequently out on calls and not in the office. When you call, please leave a message for the on-duty officer, your call will be returned when possible depending on the day's activity level. Leave a message between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM.
Missing and Found Pets
Post missing or found pets on this web site and on PenfieldTV. Please complete the form (above) for missing or found pets and drop it off in the Animal Control office, or mail it to Animal Services, 3100 Atlantic Avenue, Penfield, NY 14526 (map). You may also use the form as a guide and phone the information in to 340-8616. No personal information will be distributed. If you have any questions about this or other animal matters, please contact Penfield Animal Control.
When not to call Animal Control and Alternatives
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To retrieve a wild animal in your house or other structure.
Although Animal Control cannot remove the animal, please call for a referral to a wildlife nuisance operator or rehabilitator.
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To report a dead animal on a roadway.
Instead call the Town Highway Department at 340-8710. (The Town removes dead animals from town and county roads. New York State DOT removes carcasses from state-owned roads. The Highway Department will contact NYSDOT if needed.)
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To remove a dead animal from private property.
To dispose of deceased wildlife such as raccoon, or possum, you may bury it (hole should be at least 3 feet deep) or place in a plastic garbage bag (should place bag into second bag) and place in trash container. Any questions call Animal Services or the DEC number at top of page.
Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester
99 Victor Road
Fairport, NY 14450
585-223-1330
585-425-4183 Fax
E-mail: info@Lollypop.org
Animal Cruelty/Law Enforcement 24 Hour Hotline: 585-223-6500
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