State guide
Indiana
Indiana splits animal-control work among city or county animal-control departments, shelters, and in some places local law enforcement; county health departments are central to bite reporting. State rabies guidance is published by the Indiana Department of Health, while wildlife problems, sick/dead wildlife, and rehabilitator information are handled through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually city or county animal-control departments handle domestic-animal complaints, but in some Indiana counties local law enforcement or contracted shelters are part of the response system.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Indiana requires all animal bites to people to be reported to the local health department where the bite victim lives.
- State rabies contact
- Indiana Department of Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Disease Program
Official resources in Indiana
Indiana’s statewide bite-reporting and rabies guidance, including who must receive animal-bite reports.
Indiana Department of Health program page listing the State Public Health Veterinarian and rabies epidemiology contacts.
Official DNR guidance explaining that DNR does not provide services for injured or orphaned wildlife and directing residents to wildlife rehabilitators.
Official DNR reporting page for wildlife that appear sick or have died without an apparent cause.
Indiana’s official permitted wildlife rehabilitator list for injured, orphaned, or sick wild animals.
Key facts for Indiana
- Indiana says all animal bites to people must be reported to the local health department where the bite victim lives.
- Indiana says any adult may report an animal bite.
- Indiana physicians are required by state law to report animal bites to people.
- Indiana DNR says it does not provide services for injured or orphaned wildlife.
- Indiana DNR says a rescued sick, injured, or orphaned wild animal must be given to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator within 24 hours.
- Hamilton County says residents should contact local law enforcement for pickup of domestic strays.
Local animal control offices in Indiana
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control Allen | Fort Wayne | 260-427-1244 | City page says this office handles animal-control officer assistance, lost and found, receiving, citations, and law-enforcement concerns. |
| South Bend Animal Resource Center St. Joseph | South Bend | 574.233.0311 | City page says animal control upholds city codes on dogs, cats, wildlife, animal bites, and pet licensing. |
| Lake County Animal Control Lake | Crown Point | 219-769-7016 | County page describes comprehensive animal control services for animal welfare and community service. |
| Hamilton County Animal Control Hamilton | Noblesville | 317-776-4110 | County page says the Humane Society houses animals for county animal control and lists municipal and county contacts. |
| Indianapolis / Marion County Animal Care Service request Marion | Indianapolis | Not published* | RequestIndy lists Animal Care Service among city non-emergency services for Indianapolis residents. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Report any bite to the local health department where the bitten person lives, even if the bite happened elsewhere in Indiana.
- For injured or orphaned wildlife, call a permitted wildlife rehabilitator quickly; Indiana DNR says transfer must happen within 24 hours.
- For domestic-animal complaints, check your city or county animal-control page first, because Indiana jurisdictions differ on whether animal control, a shelter, or law enforcement handles pickups.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Indiana's population center, for comparison only):
- Montgomery County Animal Resource Center, Ohio · about 111 miles
- Cincinnati Animal CARE, Ohio · about 115 miles
- Cincinnati Health Department - Animal Bites & Rabies, Ohio · about 115 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Indiana Rabies Information: Handling Animal Bites
Website →Phone: (800) 457-8283 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Indiana page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.