Pet licenses are due every year in the month of January and may be obtained at the Bloomingdale Health Department. Any dog or cat over the age of six months should be licensed. The only requirement is that the animal have a valid rabies vaccine.

Free Rabies Clinics are held throughout the year. Please contact the Health Department for dates and locations

Summonses will be issued for unlicensed pets. Dogs are not allowed to run at large. Owners whose dogs run loose are subject to receiving a summons and possible fine.

Animals picked up as strays are taken to the Bloomingdale Animal Shelter Society at 23 Brandt Lane. There is a $30 reclaim fee with an additional charge of $5 for every day the animal is held. Owners have 7 days to reclaim their animal, after which the the animal becomes property of the shelter and may be placed for adoption.

Individuals with pets who need to relinquish ownership of their animal can contact Animal Control to make arrangements. There is a fee involved.

Abandonment charges will be filed on any and all animals left unclaimed or abandoned on shelter property under the Abandonment statute 4:22-20b. State law prohibits abandonment of any domestic animal and provides for penalties to $1,000.

Animal Control also investigates calls of abuse and neglect, animal bites and quarantines, rabies control, feral cat issues and animal complaints.

For more information, or to share an interesting animal story, please email Lisa Perry at or at 973.838.8959