Animal Control
Safely Caring for the Pet Population
Animal Care and Control
The Animal Control office handles animal surrenders, owner claims, complaints, licenses, and lost & found reports. Our officers work hard to ensure the safety and care of the county's animal population, educate the public, and uphold the law. The Animal Control office is located at the 4th door on the west side of the building. If you have any questions, please call (419) 423-1664 extension 23.
The office business hours are as follows:
Monday thru Friday—10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.
Saturday—10:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.
Sunday—Closed
- Our officers are on call 24 hours a day.
- Urgent calls after hours should be referred to the Findlay Police Department @ (419) 424-7150 or the Hancock County Sheriff @ (419) 422-2424.
- All calls pertaining to wildlife issues should be directed to the Wildlife Division of Hancock County (419) 424-5000.
Get an inside look at a day in the life of an Animal Control Officer.
Animal Surrenders :
- All surrenders are accepted during business hours only.
- Surrenders are accepted through the Animal Control office, located at the 4th door on the west side of the building.
- There is a $25.00 surrender fee per animal.
- We keep animals as long as they are happy, healthy, and we have sufficient room. We cannot guarantee ANY animal will be adopted (euthanasia is a possibility—we are not a no-kill shelter). All animals are evaluated on an individual basis in regards to behavior and health.
- There is no charge for stray animal surrenders; however donations are greatly appreciated. The Humane Society is a non-profit organization that relies on contributions to continue our services to the public.
Owner Claims
- To owner claim your animal, there is a $50.00 fee for the first day and $20.00 for each additional day.
- Stray dogs without identification can be held for seventy-two hours only and then they are screened for adoption.
- If owner claiming a dog, you must purchase a current year's license if you do not own one.
- Citations may be issued.
Dog Licenses
- The Humane Society is currently administering dog license checks for all of Hancock County, city and rural.
- Any resident in Hancock County owning a dog must annually purchase a license for each dog owned, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code (ORC), section 955.21. Citations are issued to violators of this law.
- All dogs are required by law to wear their license at all times, pursuant to ORC, section 955.10. In the event a dog may become lost, tracing the dog's license is the easiest way for the owners to be contacted. Citations are issued to violators of this law.
- All licenses, regardless of spay or neuter status, are being sold for $20.00 each. The Humane Society charges a $0.75 processing fee per sales transaction. All licenses must be purchased before January 31 st of each year to avoid a penalty charge of $20.00.
Humane Laws
COMPANION ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS:
LAW DEFINITION OF A “COMPANION ANIMAL”:
Pursuant to section 959.131(A)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), a “Companion Animal” is defined as any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling (“residential dwelling” as described in section 959.131(A)(3)) and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept.
LAW PERTAINING TO CRUELTY OF A COMPANION ANIMAL:
Pursuant to section 959.131(B) of the ORC, no person shall knowingly torture, needlessly mutilate or maim, cruelly beat, poison, needlessly kill or commit an act of cruelty against a Companion Animal (the definition of “cruelty”, “torment”, and “torture” is defined in section 1717.01 of the ORC).
LAW PERTAINING TO FOOD, WATER, AND SHELTER OF A COMPANION ANIMAL :
Pursuant to section 959.131(C) of the ORC, no person who confines or who is the custodian or caretaker of a Companion Animal, shall negligently torture, torment, needlessly mutilate or maim, cruelly beat, poison, needlessly kill or commit an act of cruelty against the Companion Animal, deprive the Companion Animal of necessary sustenance, confine the Companion Animal without supplying (necessary) food and water, impound or confine the companion animal without affording it necessary shelter from the elements if such deprivation of shelter would reasonably cause the animal to become sick or suffer in any other way.
Ohio Pit Bull Laws
LAW PERTAINING TO PIT BULLS AS VICIOUS DOGS :
Pursuant to section 955.11(4)(a)(iii) of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), any dog commonly known as a pit bull is considered a vicious dog.
LAW PERTAINING TO CONFINEMENT ON PROPERTY :
Pursuant to section 955.22(D)(1) of the ORC, pit bulls need to be confined at all times, either in a locked fence enclosure or a locked pen with a top.
Violation of this law is a 1st degree misdemeanor.
LAW PERTAINING TO PIT BULLS WALKED ON A LEASH :
Pursuant to section 955.22(D)(2) of the ORC, while pit bulls are off the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, dogs must be kept on a chain-link leash or tether that is not more than six feet long and must do one of the following:
- Keep the dog in a locked pen that has a top, locked fence yard, or other locked enclosure that has a top;
- Have the leash or tether controlled by a person who is of suitable age and discretion or securely attach, tie, or affix the leash or tether to the ground or a stationary object or fixture so that the dog is adequately restrained and station such a person in close enough proximity to the dog as to prevent injury to be caused to a person;
- Muzzle the dog.
Violation of this law is a 1st degree misdemeanor.
LAW PERTAINING TO LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR PIT BULLS :
Pursuant to section 955.22(E) of the ORC, no owner, keeper, or harborer of a pit bull shall fail to obtain liability insurance with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in this state providing coverage in each occurrence, subject to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) because of damage or bodily injury to or death of a person caused by the vicious dog.
Violation of this law is a 1st degree misdemeanor.
IN THE EVENT A PIT BULL KILLS ANOTHER DOG OR BITES A PERSON :
The owner, keeper, or harborer of the vicious animal will be charged with a 4th degree felony.
