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Animal Control Officer Amber Bowman responds to animal complaints.
Her hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Bowman’s duties are to enforce the city, county and state animal laws, protect animals and keep people safe from dangerous animals.

Duties include:
• Investigating animal cruelty reports.
• Picking up stray dogs and taking them to the Bella Vista Animal Shelter.
• Issuing citations to owners for barking dogs or for allowing their dogs and cats to run loose in the neighborhood. The animal control officer must actually hear and see the pets before she can issue a citation.
• Putting down sick animals. If a wild animal seems to be sick, Bowman will put it down. Skunks tend to carry rabies,” Bowman said. “If they don’t act right and are out during the day, call 855-3771. Raccoons carry Lyme disease. Raccoons and foxes also act sick because they might have distemper.”

Duties do not include:
• Removing wildlife from an area. Some wildlife examples are raccoons, beaver, opossum, armadillos, bats, foxes, deer and coyotes.
• Putting down a deer following an accident.
• Picking up stray cats or kittens.

How do you get rid of unwanted animals or wildlife?
• Check out a loaner-trap from the police department. Trap and relocate the animal yourself.
• Call local wildlife or animal removal services. Names and numbers can be found in the local phone book or on the Internet.

What happens when the animal control officer isn’t on duty?
An on-duty police officer will answer an animal complaint call when they have time.

For more information, click on the links below
Please link the page to the dog license information page. They can find dog licensing information, dog licensing application, dog ownership change the animal control ordinance. Also add the Bella Vista Animal Shelter Link.
Dog License Information — http://cityofbellavista.com/administration/doginfo.htm

Bella Vista Animal Shelter — the City contracts with the Bella Vista Animal Shelter to provide care and shelter to stray dogs and cats. A reclaim fee is charged and the cost increases if an animal is a repeat guest of the shelter. If a dog or cat is not reclaimed by the owner within five (5) calendar days, it shall become the property of the shelter and available for adoption. www.bellavista-animalshelter.org