Animal Control

Traditionally, Animal Control primarily was dedicated to impounding animals, investigating cruelty and neglect, getting unsafe animals off the streets and using citations to enforce laws. Many of Ohio’s laws and ordinances were written decades ago (70 years in Ohio and do not reflect the value pets have in our homes and lives today. 

In the last decade, these roles have expanded to include outreach/education, providing supplies and food, helping owners get access to veterinary services, and getting lost pets home more quickly. Animal control has shifted from a primarily punitive (punishment-based) to a supportive (education and help-based) approach to enforcing laws and helping pets and people in our communities. 

Public safety and law enforcement remain a top priority, for Hamilton County’s Dog Warden/Animal Control but now it also is widely recognized that the safety and health of animals is tied to the health of people. When animal services focus on addressing the root causes that lead to public safety issues – providing resources to keep dogs safely in their yards and put a high priority on swiftly resolving situations that put people and animals in danger – the community will be safer.