Who to Call for Animal Control in Okaloosa County Now That the PAWS Contract Has Ended
Since Sept. 23, 2026, the county handles animal control in unincorporated areas, and the number to call depends on whether you are north or south of Eglin Air Force Base, or inside a city.
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Since Sept. 23, 2026, Okaloosa County has handled animal control in its unincorporated areas. The answer to “who do I call” depends on whether you live north or south of Eglin Air Force Base, or inside a city. The county’s previous contractor, PAWS, held the work for decades. Its contract ended Sept. 22, 2026, at midnight.
Which number to call in Okaloosa County
| Where you are | Who handles animal control | Phone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated area north of Eglin Air Force Base, including Laurel Hill | City of Crestview, Animal Control Division of the Crestview Police Department | 850-682-2055 | Crestview also shelters animals from the north. |
| Unincorporated area south of Eglin Air Force Base | Okaloosa County animal control officers | 850-651-7400 | This is the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch line. It also takes after-hours emergency calls. |
| South, after-hours non-emergency | County voicemail; a callback follows on the next shift | 850-331-2195 | Leave your details and contact information. |
| City of Destin, City of Fort Walton Beach, City of Mary Esther | PAWS, under contracts running into 2027 | 850-243-1525 (business hours) | After hours, use the emergency line below. |
| Same three cities, 4:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. | PAWS on-call officers | 850-685-6003 | For injured animals, aggressive animals or animal bites. |
| City of Niceville | Niceville Police Department | 850-279-6436, ext. 1200 | Niceville’s animal services run through its police department. |
| Threat to a person’s life | 911 | 911 | Call 911 for any life-safety emergency. |
The county names Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther as cities where PAWS still holds contracts. It says PAWS works under “a limited number of municipalities, including” those three. If your city is not on this list, call the county to confirm who covers it.
What the county’s “Light” model covers
The county is running what it calls the “Light” model. Under that model, it responds only to issues that state law and county ordinance require it to handle, which are life-safety and quality-of-life matters. The county handles:
- Dangerous dog and bite cases
- Animal cruelty and neglect
- Quality-of-life ordinance violations
- Livestock at large
- Disease reporting
The county says it will not handle non-emergency stray pickups or owner surrenders “at this time.” If you find a loose dog that is not an emergency, do not expect a county officer to collect it.
Where animals go after a pickup
Shelter and veterinary care follow the same north-south split. Crestview Animal Services provides sheltering for the north. Niceville Animal Clinic provides services for the south. The county says the arrangement may change, because it “expect[s] additional changes in the southern end of the County as municipal vendor contracts evolve.”
What the county page does not yet say
- Hours of operation. The county’s FAQ on days and hours was cut off in the text we read. Check the county’s animal control page or call 850-651-7400 before you rely on a specific time.
- PAWS end dates. The page says only that PAWS’s contracts with Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther run through “varying dates in 2027.” It gives no exact date for any city.
The page does not show when it was last updated. This guide reflects the page as read on Oct. 18, 2026.
Questions and answers
- Who do I call for animal control north of Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County?
- Call Crestview Animal Services at 850-682-2055. The county says the City of Crestview handles unincorporated areas north of Eglin Air Force Base, including Laurel Hill.
- Who handles a dog bite in Destin or Fort Walton Beach?
- PAWS does. During business hours, call 850-243-1525. From 4:30 p.m. to 8 a.m., call the on-call officers at 850-685-6003 for an animal bite. The county lists both cities among PAWS's ongoing contracts.
- Does Okaloosa County pick up stray dogs?
- Not when the stray is not an emergency. The county says it will not handle non-emergency stray pickups or owner surrenders at this time.