OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — Okaloosa County is changing how animal control services are provided in unincorporated areas beginning Sept. 23, with different agencies and phone numbers serving areas north and south of Eglin Air Force Base.
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For residents north of Eglin Air Force Base, the City of Crestview’s Animal Services Division will provide animal control services. The number to call is 850-682-2055.
For residents south of Eglin Air Force Base, including unincorporated areas in the Niceville area, Okaloosa County’s Animal Control Division will provide services. The number to call is 850-651-7400, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch line.
The services include dangerous dog and animal bite cases, animal cruelty and neglect, quality-of-life ordinance violations, livestock at large, and disease reporting.
Neither Okaloosa County nor the City of Crestview will handle non-emergency stray animal pickups or owner surrenders at this time.
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Sheltering and veterinary care for animals taken into the custody of animal control officers will also be divided geographically.
Crestview Animal Services will provide sheltering services for animals from areas north of Eglin Air Force Base. Okaloosa County will use a vendor to provide sheltering services for animals from areas south of Eglin.
County officials said additional changes could occur in southern Okaloosa County as agreements with municipalities evolve.
“This initiative will bring animal control services in-house so that we can better serve the residents of Okaloosa County with ongoing animal control issues,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin.
“We are very fortunate to have partnered with the City of Crestview and local businesses to streamline the process between animal control and sheltering to keep costs down.”
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“Please be patient with us as we ramp up this operation to meet the needs of the County. It won’t be perfect on day one, but our commitment to you remains the same—we’ll be better each day,” said Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox.
More information about animal control services for unincorporated Okaloosa County is available on the Okaloosa County Animal Control website.
