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Lake County Dog Shelter
2600 North Ridge Road, Painesville OH 44077
Tel (440) 350-2640
Fax (440) 350-2600
Send Email to:
lcdogs@lakecountyohio.gov
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8 am - 4:30 pm and Sat 8am - Noon non-holiday weekends
Kennel Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am - 4pm and
Sat 8 am-11:30 am non-holiday weekends
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THE DOG PARK WILL BE CLOSED
STARTING APRIL 24, 2012
FOR APPROXIMATLY TWO WEEKS FOR CONSTRUCTION
THE DRAINAGE HAVE BEEN PUT IN
THE LOW SPOTS HAVE BEEN FILLED
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME GRASS GROW BEFORE
THE DOGS RUN ON IT
KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR UPDATES
ABOUT THE DOG SHELTER
The Lake County Dog Shelter, office of Lake County Dog Warden Rodney Shelton, takes in approximately 1,000 dogs annually. The Dog Warden serves the residents of Lake County and seeks to educate them on the responsibilities of pet ownership. The Dog Warden works to protect lost dogs and attempts to reunite them with their owners. If your dog is missing, we should be your first phone call! While state law permits the Dog Warden to dispose of stray dogs, this is considered a last resort and is only pursued when attempts to return or place the dog have failed. Dedicated to our tasks, the Dog Warden's office operates on a 24-hour basis. All dogs in the State of Ohio are required to be licensed at three months of age. We are authorized to handle only dogs, as mandated by state law.
It is standard procedure, upon arrival at our facility, to vaccinate each dog against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis and kennel cough. This helps keep our kennel and dogs healthy. The animals in our kennel are continuously monitored for signs of illness and are treated with necessary medications, as well as receiving continuous supplies of fresh water and food. The kennels runs are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day, and more active and larger dogs are exercised out-of-doors. Our Deputies are trained to handle each dog in the most humane way possible. After we legally own a dog, it is evaluated for adoptability, taking into consideration age, health, and temperament.
To provide humane education, we can schedule tours through our facility. We regularly set up booths and tables at community events, fairs, and other locations to help educate adults and children about our duties and dedication to animals. We want everyone to know that we care for our dogs just as if they were our own!
In 2011, the total number of dogs entering our facility was 857; of that number, 374 were adopted to new homes, 305 were reclaimed by their owners, 140 were euthanized, with another 29 euthanized at their owners' request. Our reclaim and adoption records well exceeded Ohio's average, and our euthanasia record was well below the state average.
ADOPTION SERVICES
You can open the link at the top of the page to see photos and descriptions of our adoptable dogs!
Each adoptable dog must be cleared by our Veterinarian prior to being made available for adoption. We encourage potential dog owners to do some research on breed traits prior to coming to our facility and to spend some time with the dog they are interested in. If they have chidren or another dog at home, we encourage them to bring their existing family here for a meeting with the potential "new family member" before adopting; this can help people evaluate how interactions will be at home before making a final decision. It is a good idea for people call us before coming in to see a particular dog, as it is possible it may have been reclaimed by its owner or already adopted! Our current adoption fee is $80.00 plus the registration fee of $15.00; this includes your new pet, a current dog license, a Veterinarian's assessment and first visit discount, initial vaccinations, de-worming, and a registered microchip. We ask for driver's licenses or state or military identification, and can accept cash, personal checks, or money orders as payment. Thanks to all who have adopted their lifetime companions from our shelter, and we wish for your continued happiness!
DOG LAWS
*Controlling Your Dog
The Ohio Revised Code specifies that all dogs must be kept confined to the owners' property or under reasonable control at all times. This applies to all areas of Ohio, urban or rural. Municipalities may have additional regulations regarding dog control within their own areas, so we suggest you check with your local zoning department. This law was made as a courtesy to all citizens of the state for safety reasons. A dog owner is held responsible for both personal injury and property damage done by his or her dog.
*Immunizing Your Dog Against Rabies
All dogs must be vaccinated against the rabies virus by a licensed veterinarian, according to a regulation of the Lake County General Health District. Call your Veterinarian for more information. Rabies can be contracted by any warm-blooded animal, including man, and is almost always fatal. Immunizing your pets helps to prevent the spread of the disease
*Licensing Your Dog
All dogs three months of age and older must be licensed immediately according to state law. New dog licenses are sold during the annual renewal period between December 1 and January 31. Dogs acquired after January 31 must be licensed immediately to avoid penalty fees. Licensing is a requirement of Ohio law, and the current dog license attached to your dog's collar will identify you as the owner should the dog become lost. Anyone finding a dog with a license on it can call the Sheriff's Department if our office is closed and get owner information. You will be notified if your dog is actually impounded by the Dog Warden's office and is wearing its current license. Dogs not wearing their current license are held only three days for reclamation. Under Ohio law, each stray must be held for 72 hours prior to adoption, while dogs wearing current licenses are held for 14 days. Every attempt is made to locate dog owners during holding periods, including the mailing of a certified letter to any owner of record of a dog wearing a valid Ohio license.
Dog License Sales Information One of our main goals is to ensure that every dog in the county is wearing a current dog license to make sure it will find its way home as soon as possible! The offices of the Lake County Dog Warden and Lake County Auditor offer current Lake County dog licenses for sale throughout the year. The annual renewal period is between December 1 and January 31, but they are always available for purchase! Members of the public are welcome to call us regarding other dog licensing agents throughout Lake County. You can print your dog license application form by opening the link at the top of the page, then completing and mailing with the appropriate fee to: The Lake County Auditor's Dog License Department, 105 Main Street, Painesville OH 44077. Please remember to include your self-addressed, $.64 stamped envelope unless you prefer to pick up your new dog license from the Dog Shelter later.
DONATIONS
We are a self-funded department of Lake County, and operate primarily on license sales, fees and fines. Any and all donations are gratefully accepted and will be put to good use on behalf of our homeless dogs! Please open the link at the top of this page if you are looking for suggestions, and thank you in advance for your generosity!
Bricks or wall tiles with your personal inscription are also available: $75.00 for individual, $250.00 for corporate sponsorship. Click at the top of the page to view our information and application form - all bricks or tiles are permanently and attractively displayed at our facility. Please call 440-350-2796 or email us for more information!
Cans for Canines - We have a recycle bin for aluminum can and product donations available in our west parking lot near the entrance to our Dog Park.
LOST and FOUND SERVICES
If you have found a dog with a current license please call us during business hours. To get a licensed dog home after hours please call the Lake County Sheriff at 440-354-3434 for the owners information.
A log is kept of each incoming dog and includes a description of the where the animal was found - this is updated and sent to our local newspaper each business day. We record and compare lost and found reports throughout the day to match owners with dogs. Animal descriptions vary from person to person, collars can come off or be changed or removed, and dogs frequently get rides to other areas, so it is very important that dog owners physically go to local shelters to check if their missing dog is there! We will provide people with contact numbers for other area shelters, and, in order to assist us with the large number of calls, a computerized answering system is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, on which citizens can place their own lost or found dog information. We check this system throughout the day in order to reunite owners with their pets. The Lake County Dog Shelter is also happy to receive this information with photographs via email in order to better make identification possible ... for those with paper fliers, we maintain a bulletin board where lost and found notices can be placed.