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1. What is the City's Trap Program?

The City’s Trap Program will concentrate on high-risk rabies carriers (Foxes, raccoons, coyotes, and skunks) and some nuisance animals in targeted areas. Citizens will come to the shelter to pick up traps and sign a trap agreement.

Animal Service field officers will pick up trapped high risk animals and citizens will bring in their nuisance animals. Citizens can drop off trapped animals for impound between 10:30 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday excluding observed holidays at:
925 S 25th
Abilene, TX 79602

2. Is there a charge for the Trap Program?

No. Citizens can choose to purchase or borrow their own trap to collect nuisance animals and then bring them to Animal Services or they may contact a service provider to have nuisance animals removed. (Animal Services does not maintain a list of such service providers).

3. Is there a waiting list?

Yes, Animal Services does expect there to be a waiting list for traps as we have a high number of high risk rabies carrying mammals inside our city limits.

4. Will my trap at home be serviced?

Yes, any High Risk rabies carrier (Foxes, Skunks, Raccoons, and Coyotes) will be serviced as normal Monday through Friday between 9 am and 4:30 pm Traps set on weekends to capture animals will result in a citation being issued and the animal being released on property. No Saturday drop offs are allowed for trapped animals.

Nuisance animals such as feral cats, squirrels, opossums, or other small rodents and mammals will require the citizen to bring that animal to Animal Services between 10:30 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday excluding observed holidays. No Saturday drop offs. Animal Services is located at:
925 S 25th Street
Abilene, TX 79602

5. How does a humane trap work?

A humane trap is a cage with a door on one end which can be lifted up and set in place with a small hook. The door is connected to a flat metal trip plate on the bottom of the trap. The trap is baited by placing food at the back of the trap, past the trip plate.

When an animal enters the trap, the weight of its paw on the trip plate triggers the door to shut behind it. The trip plate is far enough away from the door so that the animal is not harmed.

6. Will cats be trapped?

Yes, feral cats on a targeted area basis; however domesticated cats will not be trapped by the City of Abilene. There is no ordinance requiring a person to restrain their cat only to have the animal licensed and currently vaccinated with a rabies vaccine.

7. Will feral dogs be trapped?

Yes, an Animal Services field officer will place a trap in an area where feral dogs have been roaming and attempt to live trap the animal.