Behind the scenes with Los Alamos Animal Control
And some of their friends.....
In our community where neighborhoods press up against canyon cliffs, and trail systems wind through playgrounds and wild habitat alike, the work of Los Alamos County Animal Control looks different compared to other places in New Mexico. According to Animal Control Supervisor Theresa Phelan, the majority of calls it responds to have nothing to do with pets: they’re about wildlife.
In 2025, Los Alamos Animal Control handled 235 wildlife-related calls, compared to just fifteen involving domesticated animals. Deer accounted for more than half of those calls — 132 in total — while skunks made up the next-highest volume at twenty-six. The remaining incidents ranged from calls regarding coyotes to snakes to birds. The numbers reflect a simple truth about living in Los Alamos: this is not a town with wildlife nearby, it’s a town embedded in it.
This reality shapes the mission and limitations of Animal Control in our county. With a team of just three officers and one supervisor, the small department has a lot to balance. Wildlife response, enforcement of local ordinances, supporting the local animal shelter, and occasional emergency situations — the responsibility is a large one. With this small team, they can’t actively patrol trails or neighborhoods, so much of what keeps the community safe depends on prevention, and on residents’ understanding of their role in that equation.
“People do love their dogs here. We have a good, responsible community. Pets are spayed and neutered, they’re well-trained and well cared-for,” Phelan said. “We have really low incidences of dog bites or attacks.”
Animal Control records indicate there were only eight dog bite cases in 2025. However, a dog that seems harmless and well-behaved to its owner may not seem that way to a stranger, a child, or someone encountering it unexpectedly on a narrow trail. “A big thing pet owners need to realize is your pet is yours,” Phelan said. “You’re comfortable with them. You’re familiar with them. The public doesn’t necessarily know the same.” For that reason, Animal Control encourages leash use at all times, even in areas where off-leash activity is technically allowed.
In addition to leashing up pups, other preventative measures are recommended by Animal Control, especially when out on the trail. Carrying simple deterrents like a small air horn, a sturdy walking stick, or pepper spray are tools that can provide a layer of security and peace of mind when moving through a shared wildlife habitat. These tools aren’t meant to escalate a situation, but to give options: a sudden burst of noise can startle an approaching animal, a stick can help create distance, and spray can serve as a last resort if an encounter becomes aggressive. Small precautions like these can make a difference, for residents and the animals they encounter.
Los Alamos domestic pet ordinances
Local ordinance follows state law and permits dogs to be off leash under “voice and sight control,” meaning the dog must respond immediately and reliably to its owner’s commands. In practice, that can be hard to do; a sudden movement of a deer darting across a trail or a skunk emerging from the brush can override even the best-trained dog’s actions. Voice control areas — including trails — can be found on the Animal Control website.
The expectation is that pet owners maintain control at all times. If a dog runs ahead out of sight, ignores a call or approaches other people or animals without permission, they are no longer considered under control, and the owner may be in violation. The ordinance also makes clear that owners are responsible for their pet’s behavior in all circumstances, at all times.
If a dog causes an injury, creates a nuisance or repeatedly roams, Animal Control can issue citations. In Los Alamos, those citations may be criminal rather than civil, which are used in some other jurisdictions in the state. However, Phelan noted that the department is here to collaborate with the residents of Los Alamos, not necessarily harshly punish them.
As the weather warms and residents open their windows, more dog barking complaints are filed with Animal Control. In 2025, Animal Control saw the highest volume of noise complaints between April and August. If a noisy neighbor’s dog is bothering you, Animal Control will work with residents to investigate, and often mediate, animal noise complaints between neighbors. “We’re not heavy-handed with citations. People are more responsible and receptive to education here,” Phelan said.
Animal Shelter
Beyond enforcement and education, Animal Control is also in charge of supporting the Los Alamos Animal Shelter. With that can come troubling situations beyond the wildlife the officers already encounter. Earlier this year, Los Alamos Animal Control became involved in a multi-state case that began with the transfer of seven cats from an animal shelter in Garland, Texas. When the cats arrived in Los Alamos, they were in bad health, suffering from respiratory infections and pneumonia. One cat required surgery to correct a severe eyelid deformity that had gone untreated.
After being alerted to the cat’s conditions, the Garland shelter traced the origin to a property where sixty-four more cats were being kept as part of a local “rescue.” Authorities ultimately identified the situation as a hoarding case — the scale and condition of the cats pointed to an overwhelmed caregiver rather than a sustainable operation. The individual willingly surrendered the cats to the authorities.
Public health
Animal Control has also managed infectious disease cases, such as rabies, equine herpesvirus, and West Nile virus that occasionally surface in our community. For example, Animal Control responded to a call regarding a sick bat in a Barranca Mesa garage on March 17, 2026. NM Department of Health confirmed the bat tested positive for rabies two days later. While rabies cases are rare, Animal Control has strict protocol for handling and testing suspected rabies cases and cases are taken extremely seriously due to the risk they pose to both humans and animals.
Residents are encouraged to be aware of the signs of rabies, which can include unusual aggression, disorientation, drooling or difficulty moving. Any animal displaying these symptoms should not be touched or engaged with, and Animal Control should be called immediately. Even a pet cat or dog interacting with an infected bat can carry a high risk and warrants a call.
Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week
The takeaway, Phelan suggests, is not just about enforcement, it’s about awareness. Safety is shared in this community. Animal Control is there when something goes wrong, but the first line of defense is always the individual: the hiker who keeps a dog on leash, the homeowner who reports unusual wildlife behavior, or the neighbor who takes responsibility for their animal.
The department has a seven-day-a-week schedule, open from 8 am to 6 pm. It’s a small team that covers a wide range of responsibilities, often behind the scenes. Their work becomes more visible during Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week — celebrated every year during the second full week of April — but the reality is that most of what they do happens quietly, in the background of daily life in Los Alamos. From responding to wildlife calls to managing complex animal welfare cases, their office sits at the intersection of public safety and coexistence with nature.
