On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, the Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) was recognized by the 152nd General Assembly, with House Concurrent Resolution 81 sponsored by Rep. Kimberly Williams, (D-19), and Sen. Jack Walsh, (D-9).

November 2023 marked 10 years since the OAW was established under the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH). The OAW is a state office dedicated to protecting the health, safety and welfare of companion animals, and promoting the human-animal bond.

“For 10 years now, the Office of Animal Welfare has worked to improve the quality of life for pets and people across our state and their efforts deserve recognition,” said Rep. Kim Williams. “Through their collaboration with local animal shelters, rescues, and the veterinary community, they have not only made Delaware a more humane and compassionate place, but have also played a pivotal role in making our state the first no-kill animal shelter state. As we celebrate their remarkable 10 years of service, let us also embrace the important message of ‘adopt, don’t shop’ when looking for a new four-legged friend.”

In 2012, a State Animal Welfare Taskforce of policymakers, veterinarians, shelter directors and others with expertise in animal welfare was assembled to analyze issues concerning companion animals and to make recommendations for improvement. The 147^th Delaware General Assembly established the OAW from the recommendations of this taskforce in late 2013, as it was clear there was a need for a state office dedicated to addressing these issues. Today, the public has one centralized office to manage and coordinate programs and services for pets, which greatly reduces the confusion for residents and fragmentation of services that existed previously.

“Over the last decade, the Office of Animal Welfare has played a vital role in promoting safer and healthier communities by carrying out their mission to protect the welfare of the dogs, cats and other furry companions that are a part of so many of our families,” said Sen. Jack Walsh, the Senate prime sponsor of HCR 81. “I am proud to recognize the OAW’s tireless dedication, and even prouder of the work that OAW and the General Assembly have done, and will continue to do, to protect the welfare of animals throughout Delaware.”

In recent years, the office has created many programs and resources to promote the safety and wellbeing of Delawareans and their companion animals. Among these accomplishments are:

• Launching a statewide Lost and Found Pet Registry.
• Implementing training and certification regulations for animal welfare officers that ensures preparedness and consistency statewide.
• Establishing Delaware Animal Services (DAS) which is the Office’s enforcement unit to safeguard pets and the public.
• Drafting enforcement provisions for the Shelter Standards Law.
• Implementing a comprehensive shelter oversight program which conducts regular inspections of Delaware’s animal shelters.
• Expansion of the State Spay & Neuter Program to reduce animal homelessness.

“Celebrating 10 years of the Office of Animal Welfare is a significant milestone that is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff and community partners, as well as the support of the public,” said OAW Director Christina Motoyoshi. “This tribute provides an opportunity to recognize those that worked to create the Office and reflect on the impact made as a result to reduce animal homelessness and suffering, elevate professionalism and make our community safer for people and pets. We look forward to continued progress and serving as a vital resource for Delawareans for years to come.”

For more information about OAW, visit https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/oaw/oawhome.html. To report animal cruelty or a dog control issue, call 302-255-4646.

LEWES, Del. (March 29, 2023) – The Delaware Division of Public Health Office of Animal Welfare’s Delaware Animal Services (DAS) is seeking the public’s help with providing any information that may lead to an arrest in an act of animal cruelty.

On the afternoon of Friday, March 24, DAS was contacted by Lewes Police who found a dog secured to a sledgehammer and thrown into Canary Creek at the 800 block of Pilottown Road. Once recovered, the dog was found to be dead.

DAS recovered the dog and sledgehammer and is conducting an investigation to find the person(s) responsible. The dog is described as a male, possible terrier mix, approximately 40 pounds, black and brown in color. The dog did not have a microchip and had no identification. The dog was in the water for an unknown amount of time.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact DAS at 302-255-4646 or online at animalservices.delaware.gov. Tips may be made anonymously.

MILFORD – Officers from the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) arrested a Milford woman on Tuesday July 23, 2019, following the death of a dog that was tethered outside of a home during dangerously hot temperatures. The dog’s owner, 36-year-old Kimberly Sterling, was charged with one count each of cruelty to animals, failure to vaccinate for rabies and failure to obtain a dog license.

The OAW Delaware Animal Services (DAS) unit, which enforces statewide animal control and cruelty laws, responded to a report of a dog tethered outside in the heat on Thursday July 18, 2019. Upon arrival, officers found a dog tethered outside as described. The dog was tangled in the tether, had visible injuries, and appeared to be suffering from heat stroke. Officers were unable to make contact with anyone in the home.

Because the dog was in imminent danger, the officers cut the tether and rushed the dog to medical treatment. The dog died while en route. At that time, two other DAS officers had arrived at the residence where the dog resided and was able to make contact with the owner. During their investigation, officers learned the dog had been tethered outside for several hours. In addition, there was no evidence of shelter, shade, or water present for the dog. While on the property, officers also observed a second dog inside the residence, which was removed for medical evaluation and is being held pending the outcome of the cruelty case.

Sterling was also arraigned on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, and released on her own recognizance pending a court hearing.

OAW once again urges dog owners to protect their animals during excessive heat in the summer months:

•  Animals should have access to shade, shelter and water when outside: The best place for pets in hot temperatures is inside the home. If a pet must be outside in the heat, make sure the animal has a shady area and fresh water to help stay cool. The interiors of cat and dog houses can get very hot in summer months. To prevent this, ensure the cat or dog houses have raised floors, a large opening and ventilation, and are placed in the shade.

•  Dogs may not be left outside during an excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service. In Animal Services, animal cruelty, addition, dogs should never be left unattended outdoors for long periods. If the dog overheats or gets entangled or injured, no one will be there to help.

•  Pets should not be left in vehicles, even in mild temperatures: Animals kept inside a vehicle in warm or hot temperatures are susceptible to heatstroke. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the interior of a vehicle can reach 89 degrees in just 10 minutes when the temperature outside is just 70 degrees. At 80 degrees outside, a vehicle’s interior can reach 99 degrees in that time. Temperatures will continue to rise inside a vehicle, and the AVMA states that cracking windows does little to help. Call 911, or Delaware Animal Services at 302-255-4646 immediately, if you see a pet left unattended in a hot vehicle.

•  Practice caution when walking dogs in the heat: The best time of day to walk dogs in summer months is in the early morning or late evening when the sun’s heat is not as intense. A simple touch of the hand to any surface where a walk is planned will tell if it’s too hot for a dog. If it’s too hot for a human hand, it’s too hot for a dog’s paws.

•  Pay attention to signs of heat stroke: Just like humans, dogs are susceptible to heat stroke in high temperatures, especially if there is high humidity, increased activity or little ventilation. A dog that is drooling, excessively panting, or unsteady can be showing signs of heat stroke, which can be life-threatening. Seek immediate veterinary attention if your dog has become over-heated and is showing any of these symptoms.

For more information, visit https://animalservices.delaware.gov/ or https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Warm-Weather-Pet-Safety.aspx.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.