Animal Control

Pet owners must clean up any feces left behind by their pet immediately. In addition, city ordinance requires that pet owners clean up any feces left behind by their pet on the owners property within 7 days.

Dogs or cats that are on a leash and controlled by a reasonable person, shall be permitted in streets or on public land unless prohibited with signs reading “Dogs and Cats Prohibited.” Dogs or cats who are under the control and direction of a responsible person so as to be effectively restrained by leash or an electronic control device shall be permitted only on private property at the consent of the property owner or in a public area designated as such. Owners should be aware they are responsible for any damaged caused by their pet and may be subject to fines and/or impoundment fees. If you have questions, call the Hutchinson Police Department at (320) 587-2242 and ask for the community service officer.

Hutchinson limits the total number of dogs and cats in a household to seven. Except for a state licensed humane society, no household shall own, harbor, keep or have custody of a combination of more than seven animals, no more than three of which may be dogs over six months. To exceed the animal limit, you must apply for a multiple animal license. For more information on multiple animal licenses, call the Hutchinson Police Department at (320) 587-2242 and ask for the community service officer.

A feral cat is a cat that is a domesticated breed, but has lived in the wild its entire life. They are not friendly and can be extremely difficult to catch. The Hutchinson Police Department’s community service officer does not loan out traps nor does it accept feral cats trapped by a resident. Call the Hutchinson Police Department at (320) 587-2242 and ask for the community service officer.

If you have a problem with stray animals, call (320) 587-2242 or 9-1-1. If you have questions about the animal control enforcement policy, call the Hutchinson Police Department at (320) 587-2242 during regular business hours.

Leave it alone! Fawns do not have a scent of their own for the first few days of their lives, so the doe will leave it and go feed some distance away. By doing this, the doe’s natural scent does not draw predators to where the vulnerable fawn is resting. Do not move the fawn or touch it unless it is in immediate danger. If the fawn remains in the same location for more than 24 hours, call the Hutchinson Police Department at (320) 587-2242 and ask for the community service officer.

A property owner has the right to live trap any animal causing damage to his or her property. Live traps are sold at most hardware and home improvement stores or can be rented at many rental stores. Leg hold traps and snares are not permitted for use within the city.

Try not to handle the raptor on your own. Contact the University of Minnesota Raptor Center at (612) 624-4745. They will give advice and have one of their volunteers come out to pick up the animal. They have requested that non-trained personnel leave the bird where it is until someone can pick it up.

Geese are very territorial when they are nesting in the spring. If possible, find a different route past the nest. If unable to go around it, carry something with you, such as a broom, to gently push the goose away. Geese are protected waterfowl so do not use anything to injure the goose.

The number of wild turkeys in the city seems to be on the rise throughout the year. Much of this is due to feeding them, new hatchings, the lack of predators and the migration of the birds. Feeding birds and other wildlife can attract turkeys. Use loud noises to scare them off. Opening and closing an umbrella as you walk toward turkeys is often seen as a threatening display by another turkey and may chase them away from your “territory.”