THE LICKING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CONTROL

544 Dog Leg Road, Heath, Ohio 43055 Phone (740) 349-6562

Location: The corner of S.R. 13 & Hopewell Dr.

Hours: 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday
Saturday, 12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM

We are closed Sundays and on all legal holidays

PET ADOPTIONS

The Licking County Animal Shelter has many fine dogs and cats available for adoption to responsible homes. If you wish, we allow you to take them home on a two-week trial basis and we will replace or refund your money if they have medical problems. Unfortunately, millions of unwanted puppies and kittens have to be euthanized each year in this country. Because of the tragedy of pet overpopulation, we require all of our adopted pets to be spayed or neutered.

Next door to our shelter is the Humane Society's Adoption Center (740-323-2100) which also has many animals that are in need of a good home. Please stop at both of our shelters if you wish to adopt a companion animal. If you don't see a pet fitting your needs, please check back. We have new animals coming in all of the time.

LICENSING YOUR DOG

WHEN?

All dogs over three months of age must be licensed each year before the 31^st of January. If you bring your dog into Ohio after this date or your dog becomes three months of age after that date, you are required to purchase the license immediately.

WHERE?

Monday through Friday, at the office of the Licking Country Auditor, 20 South Second St, Newark, or the Licking County Animal Shelter, 544 Dog Leg Road, Heath, Oh. Also at many other locations throughout the county from December 1^st until January 31^st. Please check our web site during that time for a current list of locations.

WHY?

First, licensing is a requirement of State Law. Second, the license, attached to your dog's collar, will identify you as the owner should your dog be lost. If your dog is found running at large by the Department of Animal Control you will be contacted by phone or letter to let you know that the dog has been impounded and where you can retrieve it. With the license it will be held for 14 days, without it, it can be adopted or euthanized after just three days.

CONTROLLING YOUR DOG

WHEN?

At all times. All dogs are required by State Law to be confined to the owner's property. The Ohio Revised Code specifies that all dogs must either be kept confined to your property or be under reasonable control. Letting your dog out the door, for instance, is not normally considered reasonable control, walking outside with your dog is.

WHERE?

Anywhere. As mentioned above, your dog must be confined or under reasonable control at all times. You can be held responsible for damages which your dog causes to another's property or person and it is a $118.00 fine for failure to control your dog (second offense is a $250.00 fine and thirty days in jail).

WHY?

As a courtesy to others and to protect your dog. Imagine how your neighbors must feel when your dog runs through their garden, messes their yard, knocks over their trashcan, or bites their child. If you live near farm country, imagine if you were the farmer who just had their animals killed or injured by dogs. All of these things can and do happen in Licking County. It is the fault of no one except the irresponsible dog owner.

It's also dangerous for your dog to run at large. Dogs are no match for cars and we have had human traffic fatalities in this county caused by people's pets in the roadway. Your dog may have fun digging in trash and garbage, but it can kill. It could accidentally eat a sharp object or purposely eat sharp bones, both of which can puncture intestines. Or the irate neighbor or farmer could kill or injure your pet.

CONTROLLING YOUR PITBULL OR VICIOUS DOG

A vicious dog is defined four different ways: one that has killed or caused serious injury to any person; one that has caused any injury to any person; one that has killed another dog, or any dog that belongs to a breed commonly known as a pit bull dog.

The State Law requires that an owner of a dog defined as vicious must keep the dog securely confined on the premises in a locked pen that has a top on it, in a locked, fenced yard, or in any other locked enclosure that has a top.

Owners of vicious dogs must obtain liability insurance pursuant to the dictates of the amount not less than $100,000.00 for damage, bodily injury, or death of another caused by the vicious dog. Any owner of a dog who sells it to another person must comply with certain notice requirements to the purchaser as well as to the department of health as to the vicious or dangerous propensities of the dog.

If the dog found violating the animal control laws is a vicious dog, and the violation does not result in serious injury or death to a person, then the first offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree, which carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail or a $1,000.00 fine.

Any similar subsequent offenses are treated as a felony of the fourth degree, which carries a maximum penalty of 2 years in jail and a $2,500.00 fine. Additionally, the court may order the dog destroyed.

If the vicious dog causes injury to another but that injury is not serious, then the crime is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor, the maximum penalty for which is set fourth above.

If the vicious dog causes serious injury or death, the crime is classified as a fourth-degree felony and the court must require that the dog be destroyed.

IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LOOSE DOGS

If you are having problems with a stray or abandon dog running loose, please contact us during our normal working hours and we will be happy to pick it up. If the dog belongs to a neighbor, please have the dog owner's address, and if known, their name available when you call us. If, after we have contacted them, the problem with their dog should continue, please call us back and notify us that you are still having a problem.

IF YOUR DOG IS AT OUR SHELTER

The redemption and board fees are as follows:

1. If the dog is wearing a current license as required by law, and it is the first offense on the owner’s dog(s) running at large within a twelve month period, the seizure and impoundment fee will be $25.00, second offense within twelve months $30.00, third offense or more within twelve months $35.00, and $60.00 for aggressive dogs or dogs seized after hours.
2. If the dog is not wearing a current license as required by law, the seizure and impoundment fee for a first offense on the owner's dog(s) running within a twelve month period will be $35.00, second offense within twelve months $40.00, and the third offense or more within twelve months $45.00, and $70.00 for aggressive dogs or dogs seized after hours.
3. If the owner or harborer can show proof that the impounded animal has been spayed or neutered, the above impounding charges will be reduced by $5.00.
4. If the dog is wearing a current license and a registered letter is mailed notifying the owner of the dog's impoundment: $5.00. State law requires notification by registered letter.
5. The shelter's daily charge for board will be $8.00. The charge begins on the first day the dog is impounded.
6. You may also be receiving citations for your dog running at large and if you failed to license it as required by law. These fines are paid separately to the courts at a later date.

HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS

All animals are deserving of humane treatment. By law, our companion animals are required to have good wholesome food, water, and shelter from the elements. If you believe any animal is being mistreated, abused or neglected please contact us with the address or location of where the animal lives. If the violation is within the city limits of Newark, please call the Newark Police Department.

OWNER SURRENDERED PETS THAT ARE DEEMED ADOPTABLE

The following charges apply if you wish to surrender your pet to us. A current dog license is required for all dogs over 3 months of age and will be issued at the time of surrender if you don't have one. This is state law. No guarantee can be given on the length of the animal’s impoundment time at the shelter. We reserve the right to determine if an animal is adoptable or unadoptable. If the animal is aggressive or in some other way is determined to be unadoptable, an additional fee is charged for euthanasia and cremation. Abandoned and stray animals are accepted free.

1. Adult dogs: $20.00 ($30 if deemed unadoptable, $40 large or aggressive and deemed unadoptable)
2. Pups: $5.00
3. Cats: $5.00
4. Kittens: $3.00

EUTHANASIA AND/OR CREMATION OF OWNER'S PETS

1. Extra large dog (over 70 lbs.), or difficult dogs: $40.00
2. Medium to large dogs (20-70 lbs.): $30.00
3. Small dogs (under 20 lbs.): $20.00
4. Cats: $10.00, Kittens: $5.00

RABIES TESTING AND/OR PET QUARANTINING

1. If necessary, delivery to laboratory for testing: $20.00 Plus any applicable impoundment, boarding and euthanasia costs.

IMPOUNDMENT OF ALL STRAY, OUT OF COUNTY, ANIMALS

1. Additional $5.00 each

OUR SHELTER TAKES IN OVER 4,000 UNWANTED DOGS & CATS A YEAR! STOP THE OVERPOPULATION TRAGEDY! PLEASE, SPAY/NEUTER YOUR PET!

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