{"id":10019,"date":"2025-03-01T14:01:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/oawhome\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T14:09:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T18:09:11","slug":"oawhome","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/oaw\/oawhome\/","title":{"rendered":"oaw\/oawhome ~  Office of Animal Welfare Home  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  <br>\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\">\r\n\r\n\r\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\r\n\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\r\n\r\n\r\n      <a class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&amp;lang=en_us&amp;readid=main_content&amp;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/oaw\/oawhome.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\r\n\r\n\r\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n      <\/a>\r\n\r\n\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\r\n\r\n\r\n      <h1><!--[type=EDIT name=\"Page Title\"]-->Welcome to the Office of Animal Welfare<!--[END]--><\/h1>\r\n\r\n\r\n    <\/header>\r\n\r\n\r\n  <\/div><br>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"container\">\r\n\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\r\n\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\r\n\r\n\r\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\r\n\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\r\n\r\n\r\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\r\n\r\n\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\r\n\r\n\r\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\r\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\r\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\r\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &amp; Programs<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\r\n      \r\n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <\/ul>\r\n    <\/li>\r\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\r\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &amp; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &amp; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &amp; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &amp; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\r\n      <\/li><\/ul>\r\n    <\/li>\r\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\r\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &amp; Reports<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &amp; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &amp; Resources<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <\/ul>\r\n    <\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n              <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n          <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n        <\/div><br>\r\n\r\n\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \r\n\r\n\r\n  <!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><br>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dog and Cat\" class=\"img-thumbnail img-responsive pull-right\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/img\/dogandcat2.jpg\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The Office of Animal Welfare was established in 2013 upon the recommendations of the General Assembly Animal Welfare Taskforce in order to consolidate and coordinate companion animal programs in Delaware. The Office of Animal Welfare is committed to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of companion animals, and dedicated to promoting the human-animal bond in the state of Delaware.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2>WHAT WE DO:<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/oawbasicinfo.pdf\"><strong>Overview<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"spayneuter.html\"><strong>Spay\/Neuter Program<\/strong><\/a>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/li><li><a href=\"calicplate.html\"><strong>Animal Welfare License Plate<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"animalshelterstdsoversight.html\"><strong>Animal Shelter Standards and Oversight<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"animalshelterinsprpts.html\"><strong>Animal Shelter Inspection Records<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/regulations.delaware.gov\/AdminCode\/title16\/Department%20of%20Health%20and%20Social%20Services\/Division%20of%20Public%20Health\/Office%20of%20Animal%20Welfare\/4502.shtml\">Animal Welfare Officer Certification Regulations<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><a href=\"dar.html\"><strong>Delaware Animal Response Program<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"anchors_link\" href=\"\/dph\/contact.html#oaw\"><strong>Contact Us<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/YearReview.pdf\"><strong><i>NEW:<\/i> OAW Year in Review 2023<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><br>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nINFORMATION AND RESOURCES:<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"calicplate.html\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image:Delaware Companion Animal License Plate\" class=\"pull-right img-thumbnail img-responsive\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/img\/animallicense.png\"><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4><br>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDOGS<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/doglaw.pdf\">New Changes to Delaware Dog Laws<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"dogownerinfo.html\">Information for Dog Owners<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"https:\/\/animalservices.delaware.gov\/detail\/17\">Dog Control<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"https:\/\/animalservices.delaware.gov\/detail\/29\">Dog Licensing<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>CATS<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"catownerinfo.html\">Information for Cat Owners\/Pet Cats<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"foundstraycats.html\">Found\/Stray Cats<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>ANIMAL CRUELTY<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"https:\/\/animalservices.delaware.gov\/detail\/26\">Information<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/animal-abuse-registry-list\/\" target=\"_blank\">Animal Abuse Registry List<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"https:\/\/animalservices.delaware.gov\/report_violation\/25\">Report Animal Cruelty<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>RESOURCES<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"animalpoisoncontrolcenter.html\">Animal Poison Control Center<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"findavet.html\">Find a Veterinarian or Clinic<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"https:\/\/animalservices.delaware.gov\/lost\/33\">Lost a Pet<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"spayneuterotherprog.html\">Low Cost Spay\/Neuter Services<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"petadoption.html\">Pet Adoption<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"petfoodbank.html\">Pet Food Bank<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pawsforpeople.org\/\">Pet Therapy Resources<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>INFORMATION<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"animallawsandregs.html\">Animal Laws and Regulations<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"\/dph\/dpc\/rabies.html\">Rabies<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"dogbiteprevention.html\">Dog Bite Prevention<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.delawarehousingsearch.org\/\">Pet Friendly Rental Search<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <li><a href=\"sdesa.html\">Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"text-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/img\/healthypeoplelogo.png\" style=\"width: 170px;height: 150px\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><br>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p><p class=\"smalltext\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Adobe Acrobat Reader\" height=\"21\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/dhss\/img\/getacro60.gif\" width=\"60\"><\/a> Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\">Adobe <\/a>. If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/access.adobe.com\">Accessibility Tools page<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  <!--[END]-->\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Welcome to the Office of Animal Welfare Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &amp; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &amp; Water Quality Birth, Death, &amp; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &amp; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &amp; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections Screening and Testing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"parent":10007,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10019","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10019"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12654,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10019\/revisions\/12654"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}