Montclair Township Animal Shelter Guide for Adoption & Control
This guide is for Montclair Township Animal Shelter in New Jersey. Use it to adopt, foster, report a lost/found pet, call Animal Control, handle wildlife concerns, license a dog/cat, microchip a pet, or prepare for a shelter visit.
Important: adoptions are handled by application and appointment after pre-screening. Public hours are short, so call or email before planning a visit.
Montclair Animal Help Menu
- Clickable action cards
- Hours, phone and address
- Who to call first
- Adoption micro-steps
- Adoption and service fees
- Lost and found pets
- Animal Control services
- Dog/cat licensing
- Microchipping and ID
- TNR and community cats
- Wildlife and dead animal pickup
- Surrender prevention and support
- Before you go
- Call scripts
- Map
- Official links
- 10 FAQs
Clickable Montclair Animal Help Cards
Start with the card that matches your situation. Each card points to an official page, phone route, or practical next step.
Hours, Phone, Address and Email
Montclair’s shelter public window is short. If you need adoption, reclaim, surrender prevention or paperwork help, contact the shelter first.
| Need | Official detail | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Shelter address | 77 Willow Street, Montclair, NJ 07042 | Use for shelter visits and in-person help during public hours. |
| Shelter phone | 973-744-1400 ext. 5313 | Call for adoption, fostering, shelter visit, pantry or support questions. |
| Shelter email | MTAS@montclairnjusa.org | Email adoption/fostering questions, lost pet photos or documentation when requested. |
| Public hours | Daily 1 p.m.-4 p.m. | Arrive early; appointments may be required for adoption meetings. |
| Closed days | Closed to public Wednesdays | Use phone/email unless it is an animal-control emergency. |
| Summer Saturday closure | Closed Saturdays during summer from July 4 through Labor Day | Confirm seasonal schedule before planning a weekend visit. |
| Special circumstances | Appointments may be made during non-public hours by calling shelter | Use this only after staff confirms an appointment. |
Who to Call First
Use this table to avoid calling the wrong desk.
| Situation | Call / click | What to say | Next micro-step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adopt or foster | Adoption/Fostering page | “I submitted an application for [pet name/ID]. What is the next step?” | Wait for pre-screening and appointment setup. |
| Lost or found pet | 973-744-8600 and email MTAS@montclairnjusa.org | “Pet was lost/found at [location] on [date/time].” | Send photo, owner info and best phone number. |
| Animal control service request | 862-621-9113 | “This animal issue is in Montclair at [address/cross streets].” | Give species, condition, urgency and safety risk. |
| Animal attack or animal struck by vehicle | 973-744-1234 | “This needs immediate animal-control assistance.” | Stay safe and avoid handling injured/aggressive animals. |
| Animal cruelty, abuse or neglect | 862-621-9113 or 973-744-1234 if urgent | “I suspect neglect/cruelty at [location].” | Share details and evidence only if safely collected. |
| Dog/cat license | Health & Human Services / Vital Statistics | “I need to license my dog/cat and have rabies certificate.” | Bring rabies certificate and fee to 205 Claremont Ave, 3rd floor. |
Adoption Micro-Steps
Montclair Township Animal Shelter does not present adoption as a casual walk-in checkout. Use the official application route.
Check available animals
Open the official Pets for Adoption page and save the pet name, ID or listing link.
Submit the correct application
Use the electronic adoption application links from the Pet Adoption and Fostering page, including dog or cat forms where applicable.
Expect pre-screening
MTAS says potential adopters who submit an application and are pre-screened will be contacted to make a meet-and-greet appointment.
Prepare references and proof
The FAQ says the application process may ask for personal references, veterinarian information and proof of residence.
Bring safe transport
Use a carrier for cats and small animals, and a leash/harness/crate plan for dogs. Ask staff what is required before pickup.
Ask fit questions
Ask about temperament, energy level, medical notes, food, other pets, children, housing rules and first-week setup.
Adoption and Service Fees
Montclair’s Services page points to Township Code Chapter 83 for the Animal Shelter fee schedule. Always confirm final fees with the shelter before paying.
Adoption fees from Township Code
| Animal / event | Official code amount | Verify before adoption |
|---|---|---|
| Cat / kitten adoption | $100 | Ask what vaccines, microchip, spay/neuter or records are included. |
| Dog / puppy adoption | $140 | Ask about meet-and-greet, licensing, rabies proof and pickup timing. |
| Five-Dollar Feline Event | $5 cats/kittens during event | Confirm whether the event is active before applying. |
Service fee notes
| Service | Official / public note | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Microchipping | $20 listed by MTAS/Animal Control pages | Call 862-621-9113 or shelter before visiting. |
| Surrender fees | Township Code includes surrender fees | Call first; do not bring a pet without staff guidance. |
| Impound fees | Township Code includes impound fees | Bring ownership proof and ask staff for current total. |
Lost or Found Pets in Montclair
Montclair’s lost/found page says to call, email a photo and also contact local police, animal control officers and local lost/found pages.
If your pet is lost
- Call the shelter/lost-found route at 973-744-8600.
- Call your local police non-emergency number and local Animal Control Officers.
- Email a clear photo to MTAS@MontclairNJusa.org.
- Include when the pet was lost and from what location.
- Include owner name, address and best phone number.
- Ask neighbors to check sheds, garages, porches and yards.
- Post to local Lost & Found Facebook pages and update posts when the pet is found.
If you found a pet
- Call 973-744-8600 and Animal Control if the pet is in Montclair.
- Check for a tag only if safe.
- Ask about microchip scanning.
- Email a photo, found date/time and exact location.
- Keep the found pet separate from your own pets.
- For injured, sick, aggressive or traffic-risk animals, call Animal Control or police non-emergency instead of handling.
- Post online without giving every identifying detail, so the real owner can prove ownership.
Animal Control Services in Montclair
Montclair Animal Control Officers are available 24/7/365 and cover more than stray pickup.
| Animal Control issue | Use this route | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Stray or injured domestic animal | 862-621-9113 | Exact location, species, color, size, condition and direction of travel. |
| Animal attack / animal struck by vehicle | 973-744-1234 | State it is immediate and give safest location details. |
| Dog bite incident | 862-621-9113 or police if urgent | Victim details, animal/owner info, bite time and location. |
| Animal cruelty, abuse or neglect | Animal Control | Address, animal description, pattern, photos/video if safely available. |
| Barking complaint or nuisance | Animal Control | Dates, times, location and whether you have already contacted the owner. |
| Suspect rabies case or specimen | Animal Control | Do not handle. Report species, behavior, exposure and location. |
Dog and Cat Licensing in Montclair
Montclair requires dog and cat licensing through the Township Health Department. A current rabies shot is required.
Current public license fees
| Pet | Spayed / neutered | Intact | Late fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog | $12 | $15 | Late fee if not received by March 1 of licensing year. |
| Cat | $8 | $11 | Late fee if not received by March 1 of licensing year. |
Where to license
Bring rabies certificate and fee to the Township Health and Human Services Department at 205 Claremont Ave., 3rd floor. FAQ hours list 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. For current clinic or licensing questions, call the Health and Human Services Department.
Microchipping and Pet ID
Montclair’s shelter and lost/found pages strongly emphasize microchipping because it helps officers return pets faster.
$20 microchip
Montclair pages list microchipping for $20. The procedure takes less than a minute.
Keep registration current
A chip only works when the owner’s phone, address and alternate contact are registered and updated.
Field reunion
Montclair says microchipped pets may be reunited by Animal Control Officers before a shelter stay is needed.
TNR, Feral Cats and Community Support
Montclair lists an active Trap-Neuter-Return program and support programs for residents in need.
Feral cat colony help
For feral cat colonies in Montclair, the shelter says to reach out to Animal Control first at 862-621-9113.
Assessment first
The Services page says a Feral Cat Colony Assessment Form or email to TNR@MontclairNJusa.org is required so an ACO can contact you.
Food pantry
MTAS lists a food pantry for in-need pet owners and accepts cat, dog, kitten and puppy food donations.
Wildlife and Dead Animal Pickup
Wildlife in a yard during the day is not automatically an emergency. Behavior matters.
Normal wildlife sighting
Montclair FAQ says seeing a raccoon, opossum, skunk or fox in daytime does not necessarily mean there is a problem.
Call if abnormal
Call Animal Control if the animal is unusually aggressive, unusually friendly, sick or injured. Do not handle it yourself.
Dead animals
Montclair FAQ says ACOs pick up road-kill in Montclair and expired domestic animals so descriptions can be checked against lost pet reports.
Surrender Prevention, Pet Food Pantry and Low-Cost Help
Before surrendering a pet, contact the shelter. Montclair lists community outreach, food pantry and low-cost spay/neuter support for residents in need.
Ask for support first
- Ask about the pet food pantry during open hours.
- Ask about low-cost spay/neuter help for residents in need.
- Ask whether behavior, food cost or temporary hardship resources are available.
- Do not abandon a pet outside the shelter or in public.
Prepare before any surrender talk
- Call or email before bringing an animal.
- Bring medical/vaccine records.
- Share honest behavior and bite history.
- Ask about surrender fees under the Township fee schedule.
Before You Leave Home
Application submitted, pet ID, references, vet info, proof of residence, carrier/leash and appointment confirmation.
Photo, last-seen location, owner name/address, best phone, microchip number and local post links.
Exact address, animal description, condition, urgency and whether there is a public-safety risk.
Rabies certificate, fee, spay/neuter status and Health Department route at 205 Claremont Ave.
Copy/Paste Call Scripts
Adoption
Hi, I submitted an adoption application for [pet name/ID]. Has it been received, and what should I expect for pre-screening and meet-and-greet scheduling?Lost pet
Hi, my [dog/cat] is missing near [location]. I can email a photo. The pet was lost on [date/time], and my best contact number is [phone].Found pet
Hi, I found a [dog/cat] near [exact location]. The animal is [safe/injured/aggressive]. Can Animal Control advise the next step?Animal control
Hi, I need to report [bite/loose animal/injured animal/cruelty/barking complaint/wildlife concern] at [address]. The situation is [urgent/not urgent].Map: Montclair Township Animal Shelter
Use this map for route planning only. For adoption appointments, lost/found questions or animal-control issues, call first.
Official Montclair Animal Links
The useful details are summarized above. Use these official pages for live listings, forms, current hours and final verification.
Montclair Animal Shelter FAQ
Which Montclair Animal Shelter is this page about?
This page is about Montclair Township Animal Shelter in Montclair, New Jersey, located at 77 Willow Street, Montclair, NJ 07042.
What are Montclair Animal Shelter public hours?
Montclair Township Animal Shelter lists public hours as 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily, closed to the public on Wednesdays, and closed on Saturdays during summer from July 4 through Labor Day.
What is the Montclair Animal Shelter phone number?
The shelter contact page lists 973-744-1400 ext. 5313 for Montclair Animal Shelter. Lost/found and adoption pages also reference 973-744-8600 for shelter-related contact.
What is the Montclair Animal Shelter email?
The shelter lists MTAS@montclairnjusa.org as the official email address.
How do adoptions work at Montclair Animal Shelter?
MTAS says adoption applications should be submitted electronically. Potential adopters who submit an application and are pre-screened are contacted to schedule a meet-and-greet appointment.
How much is dog or cat adoption at Montclair Animal Shelter?
Township Code Chapter 83 lists cat/kitten adoption at $100 and dog/puppy adoption at $140. Confirm final fees and any active adoption event with MTAS before adopting.
Who do I call for Montclair Animal Control?
For Animal Control service requests, Montclair lists 862-621-9113. Animal Control Officers are available 24/7/365. For immediate animal emergencies, call Montclair Police non-emergency at 973-744-1234.
How do I report a lost pet in Montclair?
Call 973-744-8600, contact local police and Animal Control, email a photo to MTAS@MontclairNJusa.org, include last-seen location and owner contact details, and post to local lost/found pages.
How much does microchipping cost at Montclair Animal Shelter?
Montclair pages list microchipping for $20 and say the procedure takes less than a minute.
Does Montclair Animal Control handle wildlife?
Animal Control can help with sick, injured or abnormal wildlife concerns. Montclair FAQ says daytime wildlife sightings are not automatically a problem, but aggressive, unusually friendly, sick or injured animals should be reported and not handled by residents.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.