Why Local Governments Should Be Required to Provide Animal Control Services

When you find an injured stray dog in your neighborhood, who do you call? In many communities across America, the answer might surprise you: there's often no one officially responsible for helping. This creates dangerous gaps that leave both animals and people at risk. Host Penny Ellison talks with Brian Hackett, Director of Government and Community Relations at Associated Humane Societies of New Jersey, about the uneven patchwork of animal control across the country. This continues our series exploring potential legislation that can move the needle for animals.  This week's focus: making local animal control services mandatory in every community. In this episode, we explore: The fact that only 13 states require local governments to provide animal control services How Pennsylvania and New Jersey handle stray animal control differently —what works and what doesn't What happens when critical services are left to underfunded charities instead of being treated as public safety functions Real-world examples of implementation challenges, even when laws exist Why reliable animal control benefits both animal welfare and community safety How to research and advocate for stronger animal control laws in your area Action steps you can take to improve services where you live Brian shares insights from years of working within the system, explaining how even states with legal mandates often fall short in implementation, and why sustainable animal control requires treating it as an essential government service like police or fire departments. Key Takeaway: Animal control isn't just about animal welfare—it's about public safety, community health, and creating systems that work for everyone. Every community deserves reliable, well-funded animal control services. Resources mentioned: Free Shelter Assessment Tool & Advocacy Resources: animaladvocacyacademy.com/free-resources Podcast show notes, transcripts and previous episodes: animaladvocacyacademy.com Associated Humane Societies of NJ Don't miss future episodes in this series as we continue exploring achievable legislation that can create real change for animals in your community. Subscribe for more on animal law, advocacy, and taking compassionate action in your community. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Because compassion is great, but compassionate action is infinitely better