From Animal Rescue League of Berks County
The Animal Rescue League of Berks County (ARL) announced the renewal of its animal control service contracts with Bern Township, City of Reading, Jefferson Township, New Morgan Borough, Upper Bern Township, and Wyomissing Borough.
Through these contracts, the ARL will continue to provide vital animal control services that enhance public safety and ensure the humane treatment of animals in these communities.
As part of the contract, the ARL offers the following services to residents and law enforcement:
Animal-holding for stray pets: Residents may bring stray domestic animals displaying signs of ownership, regardless of behavior or medical condition. Residents will not be charged an intake fee, regardless of the care the animal requires. The ARL reserves the right to pause the intake of non-emergent cases for emergencies which include capacity crises, natural disasters, etc.
Direct access: Residents may call the ARL during business hours for humane law, animal control, and non-cruelty concerns. The ARL unburdens local police departments, and municipal township answering services from these calls and offers residents access to a representative during business hours, 7 days a week. The ARL receives over 90,000 phone calls each year, so when call volume is high, residents are asked to please leave a message to ensure faster service. ARL’s business hours are Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Animal control enforcement, dispatch, and police assistance: The ARL offers stray animal pick-up services for contained domestic animals when no other transportation is available. This also includes the pickup of rabid, injured, diseased, or dangerous domestic stray animals. All animals suspected of rabies are quarantined or tested following PA state law. Animal Control Officers enforce Pennsylvania’s Dog Law, including dogs at large, dog bites, dog licenses, and vaccinations. Dangerous dog investigations and enforcement are not included, as that section of the law is only enforceable by the county Dog Warden and Police.
Owner surrenders: Priority access is given to owners within animal control service areas who wish to surrender their pets, as space allows.
Additionally, in 2025, the ARL piloted a new fee-for-service animal control option for small municipalities that need assistance with less than 15 dogs per year. Select municipalities were considered, resulting in the following municipalities entering into MOUs for this new service: Union Township, Bechtelsville Borough, Colebrookedale Township, and Boyertown Borough.
“The ARL’s animal control program offers residents and municipal agencies progressive solutions that provide outcomes and support services in alignment with our lifesaving approach,” said ARL’s CEO Ashley Mikulsky. “We recognize that animal control is not a one-size-fits-all service and are proud to offer the new pilot agreements to select municipalities with small budgets that inquire about our services.”
These agreements allow law enforcement and authorized township personnel to bring a limited number of stray dogs to the shelter (cats are not included), further extending the ARL’s reach in serving the community. For additional information regarding these agreements, residents can contact their local municipal office. Direct services for residents are not included in the agreement. For cats, any interested municipality can enter into a voucher program for trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) services separate from an animal control contract for community cats.
Separate from animal control contracts, the ARL provides humane law enforcement to the entire County of Berks. Humane Society Police Officers enforce Pennsylvania’s Animal Cruelty Statute, 18 Pa. C.S., and are not restricted to contracted municipalities. Services include but are not limited to, unlawful tethering of a canine, investigation of cruelty and neglect complaints, and abandonment. No entity contracts for these services, nor funds the cost to offer this service. In addition to Humane Society Police Officers sworn into Berks County, local and state police also have the power to investigate cruelty and neglect.
The Animal Rescue League of Berks County remains committed to the safety and well-being of both animals and residents through its continued partnerships with local municipalities. For more information about ARL’s animal control services, visit berksarl.org/animal-control-service-areas.
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Source: bctv