ANIMALS
Frequently Used
Numbers -
Montgomery County Animal Shelter - 898-4457
Humane Society of
Greater Dayton - 268-7387
SICSA - 294-6505
10th Life - 376-5550 (5:30 to
8:00 pm)
United Humanitarians - 438-9285
(after 7:00 pm)
Adoptions -
Humane Society - 268-7387
Barking
Dogs -
Bark complaints are handled by Police in the local
municipality.
Beekeepers -
Bites -
If the biting dog is loose, the caller should be
referred to their local animal shelter and/or their police
department.
If the biting dog is
secured, caller should be referred to the representative for their area or their local
police department.
Dogs that have bitten a
person or animal will be quarantined by their local shelter, in
conjunction with the Department of Health, for 10 days to check for
rabies. The person or the owner of the animal that has been bitten,
can talk to their local police about pressing charges and can talk to
a private attorney about the possibility of a civil suit.
Cats -
Cruelty -
To report mistreatment of, or cruelty to, an animal,
call the Humane Society
Dead Animal Removal -
Dayton - 333-4807
County - 837-2528 or
274-1342
Kennel
License -
Anyone professionally engaged in the business of
breeding dogs for hunting or for sale qualifies as a kennel owner.
Kennels must be registered. Refer inquiries to the Animal Shelter or
the County Auditor's Office for fee information. Persons breeding
pets occasionally and selling puppies do not have to purchase a
kennel license. They should have a vendor's license, obtainable at
the Auditor's Office.
License -
In Ohio, dogs over 3 months old must have a license
whether or not they are secured. Contact the local animal shelter for
information.
A few municipalities
have licensing for cats. The City of Dayton does not. Caller should
be referred to their municipality or township offices for details.
Seeing eye dog licenses
are free, registration is permanent for the life of the dog and needs
to be made only once.
At large
animals -
Dogs running at large (i.e., not confined by a fence
or on a leash) are defined as strays and may be picked up and
impounded whether licensed or not. If the owner is known (traced
through the license number), he is notified of the impoundment and
must redeem his dog within three days of the time the dog was
impounded or the animal may be sold or destroyed. The three day
holding period begins the day after the animal is picked up, and does
not include Sunday or any legal holidays.
Odor -
There is no legal limit to the number of dogs and/or
cats which may be kept as pets in a single household. Complaints
about odors, etc., resulting from such situations should be referred
to the Environmental Health Department (225-4362). The Animal Shelter
has no jurisdiction except in cases where cruelty is involved.
Police
powers -
The dog warden and his deputies have police powers.
They are empowered to come on private property (example: yards and
porches, but not into homes, without a warrant). They are bonded and
they carry guns. The Shelter also has a tranquilizer gun for use if
it should be necessary. In practice, war- dens come onto private
property, as far as the front door, when in pursuit of a stray dog
running at large. They also check animals in fenced yards for license
tags. This is legal.
Rabies -
If there is any question or doubt about rabies in ANY
animal, the Board of Health has jurisdiction and should be contacted
at once. They would arrange for pickup and examination of the animal.
Telephone: 225-4362. An environmental patrolman may be contacted for
assisting on Saturdays and Sundays Call the local law enforcement
agency or Sheriff to make contact.
Animals being observed
at the Shelter for rabies are held in the quarantine room. They
cannot transmit rabies to other animals in the same room through any
method other than (1) biting, and (2) eating from the same dish. Ill
and injured animals caged in this room are, therefore, not exposed to
rabies unless they should accidentally be placed in the same
cage.
Rodents -
Callers should be referred to a private pest control
company.
Free outside baiting is
available for City of Dayton residents through Neighborhood
Development (333-3775) and for other Montgomery County residents
through the Combined Health District (225-4362).
Spay /
Neuter -
Caller should be referred to a vet or SICSA, which
has an assistance program for pet owners with a limited income.
Stray
Animals -
Stray dogs should be reported to the animal shelter.
No agency picks up stray
cats, except the Humane Society, if there is abuse involved. The
caller may trap the cat and bring it to the Humane Society or SICSA.
Traps are available for rent at many pet stores and are available for free to residents of the City of Dayton through their Priority
Board.
Vicious
animals -
The Board of Health keeps file on all dog bite cases
by owner's name, year, and name of person bitten. All pertinent
information (was your dog provoked or not, location, etc.) is kept
here. More than one bite charge is necessary, as a rule, before an
animal is declared vicious. The circumstances are vital to this
decision. Generally, two or three charges must be made before a dog
is declared vicious. The owner is then notified by letter and is
requested to restrain the dog at all times. If an additional bite
charge is incurred,, the dog is quarantined as required by law for
rabies observation.
The Board of Health then
issues destruction orders, although they have no sanctions to impose
against owners. However, an explanation of owner's liability and the
probability of an expensive lawsuit usually suffice to obtain
compliance.
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