Animal Regulations

Residents

Animal Control

The City of Eaton Rapids is serviced by Eaton County Animal Control.

The County investigates and responds to complaints involving domestic animals. Complaints involving non domestic animals are the responsibility of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Office Hours:

Monday through Friday (except holidays)
9:00 a.m. – 12 noon & 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Kennel Hours:

Monday through Friday (except holidays)
8:00 a.m. – 12 noon & 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Services:

Missing/Lost Animals
Adoptions
Licensing
Investigation of cruelty and abuse cases involving animals

For more information, contact the Eaton County Animal Control at (517) 543-5755.

Dog Licenses

Starting January 1, 2020

The City of Eaton Rapids will no longer issue dog licenses.

Click here to learn more about how to purchase a dog license.

Regulations

The City of Eaton Rapids has regulations regarding animals within the City Limits. All of the regulations can be viewed in its entirety by viewing the Eaton Rapids City Code.

Pet regulations per the City Code, Chapter 5, Chapter 8.49, Chapter 14.54 and Chapter 15.26, are as follows

Section 5-5. Dogs at Large

An owner or person responsible for any dog shall not permit the dog to run at large within the incorporated boundaries of the city. A dog shall be deemed running at large if it is not confined within a pen or fenced enclosure, or is not on a leash or tether of sufficient construction and material so that the dog is under control of the owner or person responsible for the dog.
This section shall not apply to trained leader dogs for the blind when being used by a blind person for the purpose for which the dog was trained or to a trained police dog working under direction of a sworn police officer in the performance of duties for which the dog has been trained.
A violation of this section shall be deemed a misdemeanor.

Section 8-49. Animals prohibited

No person shall allow any domestic animal on city cemetery grounds. A person who violates this section is responsible for a municipal civil infraction, subject to payment of a civil fine as set forth in section 2-132. Repeat offenses shall be subject to increased fines as set forth in section 2-132.

Section 14-54. Riding of horses on sidewalks prohibited

Horses shall not be ridden or walked on a sidewalk located within the city. Violation of this section shall be processed as a civil infraction, and any person found to have committed a civil infraction shall be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and costs.

Section 15-26. Loud noises prohibited; enumeration of prohibited noises; exceptions

Animal and bird noises. The keeping of any animal or bird which, by causing frequent or long continued noise, shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person.