Cuyahoga County Department of Central Services Animal Shelter

WELCOME TO THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER

Mission Statement
Provide humane dog control and care to ensure safety and welfare of people and animals through professional law enforcement and community relations.

The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter
9500 Sweet Valley Drive
Valley View, Ohio 44125
(216) 525-7877

Striving to be Dog's and Man's Best Friend

CONTACT PERSON
Kennel Manager	216-525-4813 (phone) 216-901-0169 (fax) ldesouza@cuyahogacounty.us

The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter exists to serve the Board of Commissioners and the citizens of the County by providing humane care and control to animals which results in protecting and ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of people and animals through staff development, community relations, and law enforcement.

Go to www.cuyahogadogs.com to see some of the Cuyahoga County dogs up for adoption.

GOALS:

	Launch a public awareness campaign on the relocation of public animal services from leased space at the Cleveland Animal Protective League to new County owned space at 9500 Sweet Valley Dr., near Rockside and Canal Rd.
	Bolster community, and business relations in Valley View, Independence and surrounding areas to help promote visitation, volunteerism, and success of new shelter adoption program in 2002.
	Address the safety and health of Cleveland neighborhoods where the highest risk or concern of irresponsible pet ownership exists.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND:

	The County Animal Shelter, the Animal Protective League, and the Cleveland City Kennel are all separate organizations. If you have lost a dog, please contact your City shelter, since they may have it. If you have to surrender an animal, please contact the Animal Protective League because the County does not provide this service.
	The County Animal Shelter handles only dogs, not cats or wildlife.
	Dog licenses are required for indoor dogs as well as for outside dogs.
	Dog licenses have to be renewed each year. Failure to do so can result in a citation and fine.

Description/History:

The County Animal Shelter is a state mandated public safety agency, which is responsible for sheltering and caring for stray dogs. To provide this service, the shelter operates seven days a week with housing space for up to 76 dogs. The Animal Shelter is part of a large network of government animal shelters. Most cities have their own animal shelters and staff and rely on the County Animal Shelter to pick up any unclaimed stray dogs found in their community. The shelter provides the public with information on finding lost dogs. It also receives and processes notices from the public in order to reunite dogs with their owners. The fees for claiming an impounded dog are minimal. All healthy animals can be adopted for $70.00 plus cost of a license after a three-day holding period and depending on space availability. Veterinarians are contracted to spay and neuter adopted animals and oversee the health condition of the Animal Shelter population.

Responsibilities:

	Make a record of dogs owned, kept or harbored in the county.
	Patrol and humanely seize and impound dogs found running at large.
	Provide a suitable place for impounded dogs, making proper provisions for feeding and caring for them and provide humane methods for euthanizing unclaimed animals.
	Retain impounded, unlicensed dogs for a minimum of three days.
	Post public notification of impounded dogs describing the dog and place where seized and advising the unknown owner that failure to redeem may result in disposal according to law.
	Provide immediate certified notice to owners of currently licensed impounded dogs and retain those animals a minimum of fourteen days if not claimed.
	Charge statutory housing and feeding costs to owners of claimed animals and require the dog to be licensed before release. Investigate claims for damage to livestock by stray dogs in order to reimburse animal owner for their market value.
	Make a weekly report for the commissioners of all dogs impounded, redeemed, and destroyed.

Services offered:	How to access:
Pick up service for suburban animal shelters.	Call 216-525-7877 anytime to leave a message; or between 10:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday to talk to dispatch, except legal holidays.
Emergency assistance for stray dogs needing medical treatment	Call 216-525-7877 between 10:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Saturday to talk to dispatch, except legal holidays.
Lost and found dog service	Call 216-525-7877 anytime to leave a message; HOWEVER since you are the best person to identify your dog you must visit the shelter in person at least every three days during regular business hours to verify if your dog is here.
Adoption service	Call or visit between 10:30 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday, Monday and legal holidays.
Humane Education	Call 216-525-7877 and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator.
Volunteers for Animals	Call 216-525-7877 and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator.

The information contained in these pages was valid at the time of publication. The County of Cuyahoga reserves the right to make changes at any time and without notices, and assumes no liability for damages as a result of errors, omissions or discrepancies.

© CUYAHOGA COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF CENTRAL SERVICES
1642 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(216) 443-6992 (216) 443-7663 (fax)