State guide
Ohio
Ohio gives counties a formal dog-control role: county commissioners appoint a county dog warden, so county dog shelters and dog wardens are central for loose and impounded dogs. At the same time, many cities run their own animal control or bite-response services, and local health districts are the required destination for mammal bite reports.
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 counties handle dog control through a county dog warden and dog shelter, while larger cities may also run municipal animal control or public-health animal programs.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Reports of dog or other non-human mammal bites must be made within 24 hours to the health commissioner of the health district where the bite occurred.
- State rabies contact
- Ohio Department of Health Zoonotic Disease Program
Official resources in Ohio
State law requiring county commissioners to appoint or employ a county dog warden and deputies.
State law on reporting dog or other non-human mammal bites and injuries to the health commissioner.
Administrative rule requiring bite reports within 24 hours to the health commissioner of the district where the bite occurred.
Official statewide list of permitted wildlife rehabilitators.
Ohio Division of Wildlife guidance on helping injured or orphaned wild animals and when to contact a rehabilitator or district office.
Key facts for Ohio
- Ohio law requires each county board of commissioners to appoint or employ a county dog warden and deputies.
- A health care provider or licensed veterinarian with knowledge of a bite or attack injury must report it within 24 hours.
- Bite reports go to the health commissioner of the health district where the bite occurred.
- Ohio local health districts must submit annual non-human mammalian bite information to the Department of Health by March 1.
- Ohio wildlife rehabilitation is regulated by the Division of Wildlife, which permits rehabilitators.
- Ohio guidance says to consult your nearest Wildlife District Office or local wildlife rehabilitator for clearly injured or orphaned wildlife.
Local animal control offices in Ohio
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center Franklin | Columbus | Not published* | County dog shelter and animal care and control agency; field services respond 24/7 to dog-law calls. |
| Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter Cuyahoga | Valley View | 216-525-7877 | County shelter for lost or stray dogs and the county dog-licensing authority. |
| Montgomery County Animal Resource Center Montgomery | Dayton | 937-898-4457 | County agency responsible for community safety from dogs at large and animal welfare services. |
| Cleveland Division of Animal Care & Control Cuyahoga | Cleveland | (216) 664-3069 | City division that handles complaints, enforces ordinances, picks up stray animals, and reunites lost pets. |
| City of Cleveland Animal Bite Reporting Cuyahoga | Cleveland | (216) 664-3069 | City public-health page directing residents to report animal bites to Animal Control and call epidemiologists for rabies questions. |
| Cincinnati Animal CARE Hamilton | Cincinnati | 513-541-PETS (7387) | Hamilton County contracts its animal control and shelter services for stray and dangerous dogs through this agency. |
| Columbus Public Health - Animal Bites, Dangerous Animals & Rabies Control Franklin | Columbus | Not published* | City public-health program responding to animal bite and 311 complaints and providing animal/rabies information. |
| Cincinnati Health Department - Animal Bites & Rabies Hamilton | Cincinnati | (513) 352-2922 | City health department page for bite reporting, rabies testing arrangements, and bat-exposure guidance. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If a dog or other mammal bites someone, report it quickly to the local health district where the bite happened; do not wait for symptoms.
- For loose-dog issues, start with the county dog warden or county dog shelter unless your city has its own animal control program.
- For injured wildlife, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or Wildlife District Office rather than trying to raise the animal yourself.
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 Ohio's population center, for comparison only):
- Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control, Indiana · about 131 miles
- Kenton County Animal Services, Kentucky · about 134 miles
- Detroit Animal Care and Control, Michigan · about 135 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Ohio Revised Code 955.12
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Ohio page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.