The City of Raytown is committed to helping pet owners keep their pets safe and healthy while preserving the peacefulness of our neighborhoods.

Each pet owner is responsible for keeping their pet well cared for and safe.

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE?

Any person who shall keep or harbor upon the person's premises a dog, cat, ferret, or pot-bellied pig over the age of 90 days shall obtain a license for the same from Animal Services within 14 days of bringing such animal into the city. It shall be unlawful to keep or harbor a dog, cat, ferret, or pot-bellied pig within the corporate limits of the city, unless such animal is licensed as provided herein. The licensing provisions of this section shall not apply to any nonresident keeper or harborer of a dog, cat, ferret, or pot-bellied pig while such nonresident is passing through the city, provided such dog, cat, ferret, or pot-bellied pig shall remain on leash or otherwise adequately restrained.

Pet licensing may assist in reuniting owners with lost pets, proves rabies vaccinations are current and promotes public health and safety, verifies animal ownership, and it is a legal requirement in Raytown, and not having a license may result in fines.


You may obtain your City Pet License online or in person.
An animal running-at-large that has been contained by a citizen or an Animal Control Officer shall be brought to the shelter facility to be scanned for a microchip. If a chip is located, then every attempt will be made to contact the animal's owner. A citizen who has found a stray must contact the shelter in a timely manner to assist in locating the owner. Stray animals will be held by the finder or the shelter for a period of 5-days to give the owner time to reclaim their pet before the animal is released to the City of Raytown Animal Services for transfer or adoption. It is illegal to intentionally release or abandon a domesticated animal on public or private property.

Found Pets

Impounded animals are posted onto the City of Raytown Animal Services Facebook page. If the animal is not posted on this page, we do not have it in our possession. You may call our office at (816) 737-7025 to make a report of your missing pet in case we receive word of someone finding your animal. We do not post animals that are not in our possession on our Facebook page, but we encourage you to post photos of your missing pets with the various Lost/Found Animal pages and groups on Facebook.

Impounds

When our Animal Control Officers pick up at-large animals, they are held at our shelter for 5 days to allow time for the owner to reclaim their pet. If you are the owner of an animal that we have in our impound, give us a call at (816) 737-7025 to verify we have it, and your next steps. If the holding period includes a weekend, please call to coordinate a pickup time as our regular operating hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm. To reclaim your pet, you must bring  with you a valid form of ID, the animal's current rabies vaccination certificate, and pay any impound fees. The animal becomes the property of the City of Raytown Animal Services if not reclaimed by the conclusion of the 5-day stray hold.  

Fee Schedule

Impound

  • 1st $50
  • 2nd $75
  • 3rd plus $150
  • Intake (includes vaccines) $15
  • Microchip $15
  • Boarding per day/$12
  • Quarantine/bite hold per day/$20
  • Rabies vaccine $18
  • Flea meds if fleas observed $12

Any medically required veterinary services are charged equal to provider charges

****** current prices as of November 1, 2025******

Follow this link to view the complete City of Raytown's Schedule of Fees.

A cruelty hold means a dog is not receiving the minimum requirements, per the Raytown City Ordinance regarding pet care.

Sometimes this involves a conversation with one of our Animal Control Officers where we explain what proper shelter, potable water or other concerns are and how to meet them. If a pet owner is in need of resources we do our best to find those for the owners. Sometimes the animal needs to be brought in under our care while these conversations happen and resources are found. In some instances the violations are corrected, resources are found, the pet returns home and we maintain an open line of conversation and make sure the pet continues to be taken care of, according to the ordinance. In other instances the situation calls for immediate removal of the pet or pets until the court determines if the pet should return to the owners.

Please feel free to contact us to open up a cruelty/welfare investigation online, by phone, or in person.
Persons are encouraged to report to the department or the police department any personal injury caused by a warm-blooded animal through having been bitten, clawed or scratched. An official report shall than be taken and filed in the department. Domesticated animals involved may be placed on a mandatory 10-day bite hold.
Animal Control will assist in contacting the owner of a sick or injured domesticated animal while also seeking medical attention if necessary.

Sick or injured wildlife should be reported to one of the following:

Lakeside Nature Center
(816) 513-8960

Missouri Department of Conservation
(816) 622-0900

Anita B Gorman Conservation
(816) 759-7300

Burge Bird Rescue
(816) 356-4700

According to the Municipal Code, no person shall own or keep any animal that by making excessive noise disturbs a neighborhood. The following definitions and conditions shall be specifically applicable to enforcement of the aforesaid prohibition of this section:

(1)

The term "excessive noise" means and includes any noise produced by an animal that is so loud and continuous or untimely as to disturb the peace and quiet of a neighbor.

(2)

The term "neighbor" means an individual residing in a residence structure which is within 100 yards of the property on which the animal is kept or harbored and who does, in writing by signing a general ordinance summons (GOS), state that he will testify under oath to said animal making excessive noise.

(3)

If a summons is issued charging violation of this section, a subpoena shall also be issued to the disturbed neighbor to testify in the matter.

 

The City of Raytown Animal Services Department shall be responsible for the removal of all dead wild animals found within the city and all dead animals found on public property or thoroughfares within the city. 

All domestic dead animals shall be removed or otherwise disposed of in a sanitary manner by the owner or proprietor of the premises within 12 hours after the death of such animal. If not so removed or disposed of, the director shall remove such animal. The costs associated for the removal of such animal will be charged directly to the property owner or proprietor.

On occupied property, the owner or the tenant thereof shall provide easy access to the subject animal for purposes of its removal.

No person owning or having in his possession the carcass of any animal not to be used for food shall permit the same to remain in or upon any street, sidewalk, park, public ground, private lot, or other place without at once giving notice to the department.

If the dead animal is located on 350 Highway, it will need to be reported to Missouri Department of Transporation (MODOT) for removal.
Animal Services assists by temporarily holding domesticated animals whose owners are displaced by incarceration or tragedy.
We keep a pet food pantry stocked with generous donations from individuals, rescue organizations, and supply stores to assist Raytown residents that may need a little help providing food for their pets. Please feel free to stop by during office hours to pick up some food, or to make donations.

WHICH PET LICENSE SHOULD I GET?

Requires current rabies vaccine certificate issued by a veterinarian

Altered Animal $10/year

Unaltered Animal $30/year
Requires current 3-year rabies vaccine certificate issued by a veterinarian


Altered Animal $10/year

Unaltered Animal $30/year

Requires current 3-year rabies vaccine certificate issued by a veterinarian

Altered Animal $50.00

Unaltered Animal - not available



Animals Available for Adoption!


 Adoption fee includes spay/neuter, all vaccines, microchip and city license for Raytown residents