Cape Girardeau, MO

• Animal control
  Cape Girardeau Police Department - Nuisance Abatement Officers (Special Operations Division)

  Phone: 573-339-6311 ext. 1

  Website: https://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/departments/police/chiefs-message/divisions-and-units/special-operations/nuisance-abatement/

  Police address: 2536 Maria Louise Lane, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

  Responsibilities: domestic animal complaints; wildlife complaints

  Source: City of Cape Girardeau - Police Nuisance Abatement · Checked Nov 5, 2026
• Emergency vet care

  Hours are only as each source states them. Call before you go.

  Animal Emergency Clinic (St. Louis location)

  Phone: 314-822-7600

  Address: 9937 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122

  Website: https://www.stlouisanimalemergencyclinic.org/

  City: Kirkwood

  Open 24/7. Nearest identified verified 24-hour hospital (about two hours' drive); located in Kirkwood, St. Louis County. No 24-hour ER found in southeast Missouri.

  Source: Animal Emergency Clinic - Contact · Checked Nov 5, 2026
• Animal shelters and rescues
  Southeast Missouri Pets (SEMO Pets Humane Society / Adoption Center)

  Phone: 573-334-5837

  Address: 180 Weston Street, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

  Website: https://www.semopets.org/

  Type: nonprofit full-service animal shelter

  Source: Southeast Missouri Pets · Checked Nov 5, 2026
• Rabies vaccination requirement (2)
  • Website: https://health.mo.gov/providers/manuals/communicable-disease-investigation-reference-manual/rabies-animal

    Rule: Rabies vaccination of animals in Missouri may only be legally performed by a licensed veterinarian (RSMo 322.010, 340.216; 20 CSR 2270-4.031).

    Scope: statewide

    Applies statewide (Missouri). Source: Missouri DHSS Communicable Disease Investigation Reference Manual - Rabies, animal · Checked Nov 5, 2026
  • Rule: Missouri's rabies law is RSMo Chapter 322 (Protection Against Rabies). Section 322.090 empowers county commissions to adopt rules on licensing, impounding, confinement and rabies control and requires them to operate a county dog pound (may contract with cities); 322.030 requires the owner of a dog exposed to a rabid animal to have it treated by a licensed veterinarian or destroyed. Pet vaccination requirements are therefore set by county and city ordinance.

    Scope: statewide

    Statute url: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=322

    Applies statewide (Missouri). Source: Missouri Revisor of Statutes, RSMo 322.090 · Checked Nov 5, 2026
• Spay and neuter help
  SEMO Pets SNAP Spay/Neuter Program

  Phone: 573-334-5837

  Website: https://www.semopets.org/spay-neuter-snap-program-cape-girardeau

  Eligibility: Southeast Missouri residents; no income eligibility requirements

  Source: Southeast Missouri Pets - SNAP · Checked Nov 5, 2026

About this place

• Population
  40,818 (2024)

  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns) · Checked Nov 5, 2026
• Land area (sq mi)
  29.291 (2025)

  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Gazetteer Files (places) · Checked Nov 5, 2026
• Official website
  http://cityofcapegirardeau.org/

  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing · Checked Nov 5, 2026