Preventing Pets From Landing in the System
Twin Falls animal control is taking a multifaceted approach to keep dogs from entering the shelter system, combining rapid field reunification with property owner accountability and community vigilance.
Last year, Twin Falls animal control officers responded to more than 2,800 calls involving animal problems, yet managed to return 538 dogs directly to their owners without requiring a shelter stay. An additional 154 dogs were returned to owners in the field this year, demonstrating the effectiveness of quick identification and outreach when animals escape or roam.
Jamie Henderson, an animal control officer in Twin Falls, works with the Magic Valley Humane Society, which operates the shelter, to keep the facility from becoming overwhelmed. The strategy centers on prevention, rapid response, and community cooperation—residents who spot lost or stray dogs play a critical role in the reunification process.
Securing Property and Licensing Dogs
One of the simplest ways to prevent dogs from ending up in animal control’s system is ensuring they cannot escape in the first place. Robyn deLapp of Burley learned this lesson when her dogs slipped through an unsecured gate while she was at work. “When I first moved to my house, we didn’t know the gate wasn’t secure, and my dogs got out,” she said. “My neighbor saw it since I was at work and my neighbor was able to get them back for me. Forever grateful for her.”
Beyond securing property, Twin Falls requires dogs six months of age or older to be licensed. Licenses can be purchased at the animal shelter and serve as the primary identification tool when stray animals are recovered. A citation for allowing a dog to run at large carries a fine of $136.50, including court costs—an incentive for owners to keep dogs contained and properly tagged.
Sean Standley, the code enforcement coordinator, works alongside animal control to enforce these standards and educate the community about responsible pet ownership.
Citizens Stepping In to Help
Residents like Kathy Williams of Twin Falls are instrumental in returning strays before they land in the shelter. Williams actively monitors her neighborhood for loose dogs and takes immediate steps to identify and reunite them with owners. “I’m always trying to round up stray dogs in my area and call the number on the collar if they have one,” she explained. “If not, I call animal control if I can’t get close or if there is no identification.”
This grassroots approach reduces the burden on the shelter and increases the likelihood of a quick reunion. When citizens report stray dogs, animal control can respond promptly and check microchip registrations or call numbers on collars, often connecting animals with owners within hours rather than days.
Summer Cruelty Calls and Hot-Car Emergencies
Twin Falls animal control also monitors for animal welfare violations, particularly during summer months when certain infractions spike. In 2025, the department fielded 198 animal cruelty calls, 102 vicious animal calls, and 77 animal bite or attack calls. Animal cruelty reports tend to increase as temperatures rise.
On a recent day, animal control received three calls from concerned citizens about dogs left in parked vehicles. One officer discovered a car with air conditioning running at full blast, suggesting the owner had taken precautions. However, not all such cases end as safely.
Police officers accompany animal control officers on calls involving animal cruelty or potentially vicious animals for safety reasons. Residents who believe an animal is in dire threat from heat exposure inside a vehicle are encouraged to break a window to prevent the animal’s death.
What Comes Next
Twin Falls animal control will continue its community-based approach to reducing shelter admissions. The department’s success in returning hundreds of dogs directly to owners demonstrates that prevention, property management, licensing, and civic engagement work together to keep pets safe and out of the shelter system. Residents can support these efforts by securing their property, licensing their dogs, watching for strays in their neighborhoods, and reporting animal welfare concerns promptly.