City of Aiken Animal Control / Pet Information

Registration

All dogs and cats must be registered that live within city limits. Pets do not have to be registered until they reach 6 months of age (It is better (and CHEAPER!) to wait until the pet has been spayed/ neutered and has a microchip before registering).

The prices for registering are as follows: We accept cash, money order, cashier's checks, and local personal checks for these fees made payable to the "City of Aiken"

- Fertile animals without a microchip $100 lifetime registration
- Fertile animals with a microchip $80 lifetime registration
- Sterile animals without a microchip $15 lifetime registration
- Sterile animals with a microchip FREE lifetime registration
To register a pet, the owner must have up to date rabies vaccination information including tag number and expiration date.
If the pet has a microchip, the microchip number must be provided at the time of registration.
You can do this Monday-Friday (8:10 am- 5:00 pm) at the Public Safety Headquarters Records Department located at 251 Laurens Street NW, Aiken, SC 29801
Forms are also available online
City of Aiken pet owners are allowed to have as many pets as they can take care of, but for owners who have six or more animals of the same species in the City of Aiken, a kennel fee must be paid every year. This is a $25 yearly fee. This fee can be paid at the Public Safety Headquarters during regular business hours.

Microchips

The City of Aiken also offers microchips for dogs and cats for a $15 fee. Appointments can be made through Jeff Wilson at (803)642-7620 or Records Personnel at (803)642-7695 or (803)642-7694.

Low Income Spay/Neuter Program

The City of Aiken offers a low income spay/neuter program in conjunction with the Aiken SPCA.

You can pick up an application at Public Safety Headquarters or online
Bring proof of your income (W2, pay check stub, etc.) when you come to fill out your application (or include with if mailing in)
If you're approved, the SPCA will be notified to set up an appointment with you.
A $15 co pay will be paid to the SPCA and this will cover your pet's spay/neuter, rabies vaccination, microchip, and city license!

Nuisance Wildlife

Many Aiken residents call Animal Control about nuisance wildlife in their yards. For example a beaver is not dealt with by the City of Aiken, you need to contact a Nuisance Wildlife Operator, and this will cost you money.

Bees are also a big issue in Aiken, residents need to contact a Beekeeper about this.
Any living animal located inside of the residence, Public Safety's Animal Control will take care of. Contact at (803)642-7620.
If you have bats in your chimney, we will not remove them, but we can instruct you on how to do so.
We will not go under your house or in an attic to remove an animal. We will set a trap at the entrance of these areas to try to capture the animal.
We will trap foxes in your yard!
Got a snake? Don't shake! Call Aiken Public Safety's Animal Control!
We will not take care of spiders and roaches, call Pest Control.
Animal Control will pick up any stray dogs or cats in city limits. If the animal is not located in city limits, you need to contact Aiken County Animal Control at (803)642-1537. Rule of thumb- We do not pick up anything that will take a tremendous amount of time.

Leash Laws

Dogs are required to be on a leash in the City of Aiken. Failure to do this can result in being ticketed by Animal Control.
No other pets are required to be on a leash.

Vicious Animals

If you have a complaint about a neighbor's dog who you think may be vicious, you need to contact Animal Control at Aiken Public Safety (803)642-7620.
Also, Animal Control can be contacted about an "annoying barking" neighbor dog.

Lost and Found Animals

If you have lost an animal, it is a good idea to call Animal Control at Aiken Public Safety (803)642-7620, so that they can be on the lookout.
It is also a good idea to contact local animal shelters to see if they may have already picked them up.
If you find a pet with a City of Aiken license. Call (803)642-7620, so that we can run the number and get the pet's owner information to you quickly!

Dog Park

The City of Aiken's dog park should be open by January 2010. It will be located on Willow Run Road by the new SPCA.
Dogs will be able to run free there in the enclosed area. This will be the only place in the city where dogs can do this.