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Animal Shelter
Responsibilities of the Animal Shelter
The Animal Shelter, a division of the Department of Environmental Control, provides a variety of pet services including: microchipping, dog licenses, and more for town residents, in addition to providing shelter to animals in need of care until they can be adopted by a loving family. Residency in the Town of Babylon is not required to adopt a pet from the Animal Shelter. However, you must be a resident to surrender a dog or cat for adoption or any other reason. Fees for adoption and or surrendering pets are listed below and there may be a waiting list for animals to be put up for adoption.
- Pets for Adoption
- Animal Complaints
- Lost & Found Pets
- Volunteers & Tours
- Dog & Cat Services
- Other Local Town Shelters
Adoptions:
Adoption hours are Monday-Friday 10am-3:30pm and Saturday 10am-2:30pm. You need to be at the shelter a half hour before closing in order to have enough time to meet with our adoption staff and pets. Additionally, the shelter office can answer your phone calls after 8am, Monday-Friday. If you are over 18 years of age, come tour the Animal Shelter, meet a dog, cat, guinea pig, or rabbit and bring the love of a pet into your home. You do not need an appointment to visit our Animal Shelter during regular business hours. The below items are all included in the adoption fees. All adopted pets:
- Will be spayed/neutered (except guinea pigs)
- Will receive age appropriate vaccinations.
- Dogs will be heartworm tested; Cats will be Felv/FIV tested.
- Will receive parasite prevention.
- Will be examined by a Veterinarian.
- Will be microchipped and the microchip registered.
Adoption fees are CASH ONLY:
- Cat/Kitten $65, adopters over 60 years old $35
- Dog/Puppy Babylon Town Resident $91.50, adopters over 60 years old $51.50
- Dog/Puppy Non-Resident $85, adopters over 60 years old $45
- Rabbits $35
The adoption process:
- Consult with one of our adoption staff members either by phone or in person at the shelter, prior to meeting the pet for a history of the pet.
- Complete an Adoption Application and provide a photo ID.
- Return with all household members prior to adoption day to meet the pet you are interested in. Some shelter pets may require more than one visit with the pet.
- If you have a dog, a dog-to-dog "meet and greet" is required at the shelter prior to adoption day.
- Some pets may not be ready for immediate release to adopt. Our strays are held 5 days by law and then they will have their medical process completed. Only once that is complete, can they be picked up for adoption. The medical process may take 1-3 weeks before a pet is ready for adoption.
- If a dog is not yet ready for adoption, the potential adopter will follow the same process as above and be given a hold slip for the dog that has been applied for. The shelter will take up to 4 applications on a dog. We do not give out a hold slip if a dog is available and ready for adoption.
- The shelter does not take applications on cats or rabbits before they are ready to leave the shelter for adoption.
Surrendering Pets for Adoption:
- Placing a pet for adoption will be dependent on kennel space, temperament, health, and age.
- The shelter will accept pets for adoption on a case by case basis.
- Often the prospective pet will be placed on a waiting list and then be brought in for adoption as space is available. There is no way for staff to predict how long you will be on the waiting list. Please call the shelter 631-643-9270 to be placed on the waiting list.
- Pets may be surrendered to the animal shelter by the owner only with photo ID.
- Proof of residence in the Town of Babylon (driver’s license, utility bill, etc.) is required.
- Dogs - There is a $65 fee, $35 for senior citizens. All fees are cash only.
- Cats - There is a $35 fee, $15 for senior citizens. All fees are cash only.
Animal Control:
The Town of Babylon covers 53 square miles and is serviced by 3 Animal Control Officers who enforce Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of New York State and the Local Laws and Ordinances of the Town of Babylon.
Animal Control Officers cannot enforce the codes that are in the Villages of Amityville, Babylon, and Lindenhurst. Staff in the shelter office takes initial animal control calls and complaints from residents and dispatch the many calls per year to the Animal Control Officers.
Monday-Friday 8am-3:30pm, contact Animal Control services at 631-643-9270. Animal Control Officers respond to:
- Loose or contained stray dogs
- Cats only if injured or sick
- Wildlife only if injured or sick on a case by case basis. Some wildlife calls are best handled by licensed and trained wildlife personnel.
- **Outside of these regular business days and hours Animal Control Officers only respond to sick, injured, or vicious contained dogs after Public Safety has been contacted 631-422-7600
Please contact the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for information about controlling nuisance wildlife (ie. raccoons, Canada geese, bats). 631-444-0310
How to Help Our Pets:
The shelter is currently only in need of any brand of CANNED cat and dog food, in addition to the below items on our Wish Lists below.
Help the Animal Shelter by providing items from our Wish Lists.
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Chris Elton
Director
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Babylon Animal Shelter
Physical Address
80 New Highway
Amityville, NY 11702
Phone: (631) 643-9270Fax: (631) 643-9236
Adoption Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00am - 3:30pm
Saturday 10:00am - 2:30pmYou need to be at the shelter a half hour before closing in order to have enough time to meet with our adoption staff and pets.
Shelter Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 3:30pm
Saturday 10:00 am - 2:30pm
- Where is the Babylon Animal Shelter located?
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Babylon Animal Shelter is located at 80 New Highway, Amityville.
Directions:
Sunrise Hwy. to north on New Hwy/County Rd 28, bus company is on the corner. Go a half mile to the shelter on your right. You will pass Cassata Dr. on the left just before the shelter.
Eastbound Southern State Pkwy to exit 33. Right on New Hwy. * Pass New Horizons Blvd on the left and the shelter will be on the left.
Westbound Southern State Pkwy to exit 34. Left on New Hwy. see *above
Eastbound LIE exit 49S, go one mile on the service road and make a right on Pinelawn Rd. *** Go 5 miles, cross the RxR tracks and make a right on New Horizons Blvd. Make a left on New Hwy/County Rd 28 and next left at the shelter.
Westbound LIE exit 49N, go to next light on the service road and make a left on Pinelawn Rd. see *** above
- What are the shelter's hours of operation?
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Adoption hours : Monday-Friday 10am-3:30pm and Saturday 10am-2:30pm. You need to be at the shelter a half hour before closing in order to have enough time to meet with our adoption staff and pets.
Shelter office hours: Monday-Friday 8am-3:30pm and Saturday 10am-2:30pm
The shelter is closed on Sundays and Holidays.
- How do I adopt an animal from the shelter?
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The adoption process:
- Consult with one of our adoption staff members either by phone or in person at the shelter, prior to meeting the pet for a history of the pet.
- Complete an Adoption Application and provide a photo ID.
- Return with all household members prior to adoption day to meet the pet you are interested in. Some shelter pets may require more than one visit with the pet.
- If you have a dog, a dog-to-dog "meet and greet" is required at the shelter prior to adoption day.
- Some pets may not be ready for immediate release to adopt. Our strays are held 5 days by law and then they will have their medical process completed. Only once that is complete, can they be picked up for adoption. The medical process may take 1-3 weeks before a pet is ready for adoption.
- If a dog is not yet ready for adoption, the potential adopter will follow the same process as above and be given a hold slip for the dog that has been applied for. The shelter will take up to 4 applications on a dog. We do not give out a hold slip if a dog is available and ready for adoption.
- The shelter does not take applications on cats or rabbits before they are ready to leave the shelter for adoption.
Adoption fees are CASH ONLY:
- Cat/Kitten $65, adopters over 60 years old $35
- Dog/Puppy Babylon Town Resident $91.50, adopters over 60 years old $51.50
- Dog/Puppy Non-Resident $85, adopters over 60 years old $45
- Rabbits $35
- Can I volunteer at the shelter?
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The Babylon Animal Shelter takes volunteers to help take care of the animals. Please see the flyer below for information and for contact info to let us know you are interested in volunteering at the Town of Babylon Animal Shelter.
The first step to becoming a volunteer is to complete a volunteer application. Upon completion and submission of the volunteer application, it will be processed and then you will be contacted to discuss any questions you may have.
Once accepted into the Volunteer Program, new volunteers will be assigned a senior volunteer mentor who will train and assist you with volunteer and shelter protocols. All new volunteers must sign the Volunteer Acknowledgement, Service Agreement and Release of Liability.
- Can I board my dog or cat at the Animal Shelter?
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The Shelter does not provide boarding services.
- Does the Shelter have a veterinarian on staff?
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The Shelter does have a veterinarian and a veterinarian technician is also on staff. They evaluate and treat Shelter pets only.
- Does the Shelter offer low cost rabies, spaying or neutering services?
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Currently, the Shelter does not have a clinic that provides low cost rabies vaccinations or spay and neuter services on premises. However, the Town has a low cost Trap/Neuter/Return program for feral cats - contact the Shelter for details at (631) 643-9270. Additional information about such services can be found through P.A.W.S. at (631) 539-2014.
- What types of animals does the Shelter serve?
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The Shelter cares for all breeds of dogs and cats, as well as rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs. Generally, these animals have either been abandoned or have become lost.
- Where can I go locally for emergency veterinarian services?
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The Commack Animal Emergency Hospital and the Veterinary Medical Group are both local organizations open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including Sundays and Holidays, and serve on an emergency basis.
New York Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center
2233 Broadhollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735
(631) 694-3400
Commack Animal Emergency Hospital
3095 East Jericho Turnpike
East Northport, NY 11731
(631) 499-6622
Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island
75 Sunrise Highway
West Islip, NY 11795
(631) 587-0800
- How does the Town handle stray animals?
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The shelter does assist Town residents with stray animal concerns and should be contacted at (631) 643-9270 for assistance.
- Who removes a dead animal from the roadway?
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Dogs: You may contact the Animal Shelter at 631-643-9270 for a deceased stray dog in the roadway. The dog will be scanned for a microchip and all attempts will be made to locate the owner.
Cats & Wildlife:
- Town roadways please call 3-1-1 or 631-957-7474
- State Roadways please call 631-420-4270 (Deer Park Ave. (North of Southern State Pkwy), Conklin St., Sunrise Hwy, Montauk Hwy., Route109, Route 110.)
- County roadways please call 631-852-4010 (Great Neck Rd., Wellwood Ave., Bay Shore Rd., Oak St., Straight path., Commack Rd., Deer Park Ave. (South of Southern State Pkwy).
- Amityville Village roadways 631-264-6000
- Babylon Village roadways 631-669-4878
- Lindenhurst Village roadways 631-957-7500
- Does the Shelter euthanize animals?
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Euthanasia service is available Monday-Friday, providing a technician is available. Please call at 8am on the day that you would like the procedure, so that arrangements can be made for when you will come in.
- You may spend time with your pet immediately before and after the procedure, but you will not be able to stay with your pet during the procedure. Proof of residence in the Town of Babylon and photo ID is required.
- Dogs - There is a $65 fee, $35 for senior citizens. All fees are cash only.
- Cats - There is a $35 fee, $15 for senior citizens. All fees are cash only.
- This service is for a group cremation only. If you would like a private cremation with return of your pet’s ashes, you will need to make arrangements directly before coming at your appointment time. Please call either:
- Regency Pet Crematory 631-345-0600
- Legacy Pet Crematory 631-800-7387
- You may spend time with your pet immediately before and after the procedure, but you will not be able to stay with your pet during the procedure. Proof of residence in the Town of Babylon and photo ID is required.
- Is the shelter a "No Kill" shelter?
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The term "No Kill" is most often associated with private shelters. Private shelters carefully screen animals before they are accepted for adoption. Any animals with medical or behavioral issues are not accepted. An owner of such an animal would need to look elsewhere for placement, usually a municipal shelter. BAARC is a humane municipal animal shelter and accepts all stray canines found within the Town's geographic borders. All animals that are adoptable or have medical conditions that are treatable, will stay at the animal shelter until they are adopted as long as there is room. The shelters save rate is about 88% for dogs and 96% for cats. This rate is calculated on the total intake of dogs and cats regardless of age, condition or temperament.