Animal Control in Licking County, Ohio: Services, Laws, and Resources

Animal control services in Licking County, Ohio, are divided between government agencies and non-profit organizations depending on the type of animal and the nature of the issue. The Licking County Dog Shelter & Care Center handles stray dogs, dog licensing, and public safety enforcement, while the Licking County Humane Society investigates animal cruelty and neglect. Wildlife issues are managed through state wildlife officials or private contractors.

• Animal Issues in Licking County
  • Canine Issues (Stray, Licensing, Dangerous Dogs)
    • Licking County Dog Shelter & Care Center
      • Dog Warden (ORC Chapter 955)
  • Cruelty & Neglect (All Domestic Species)
    • Licking County Humane Society (LCHS)
      • Humane Agents (ORC Chapter 959)
  • Wildlife & Bites (Health Risk, Nuisance)
    • Licking County Health Department (Quarantine)
    • Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR)

Navigating local animal management services requires understanding which department holds legal authority over your specific situation. Jurisdiction in Licking County depends heavily on whether the animal is domestic or wild, whether an immediate safety threat exists, and whether the issue occurs within municipal limits like Newark, Heath, Pataskala, or Granville, or within an unincorporated township.

Key Agencies and Their Responsibilities

Understanding who to contact saves critical time during an animal-related emergency or public safety concern. In Ohio, legal authority over animals is carefully divided under the Ohio Revised Code (ORC).

1. Licking County Dog Shelter & Care Center (County Dog Warden)

The Licking County Dog Shelter operates under the authority of the Licking County Board of Commissioners and the enforcement mandates of ORC Chapter 955. The Dog Warden’s primary duties focus on canines and public safety.

• Primary Jurisdiction: Stray, roaming, or unleashed dogs; dog bites; aggressive or dangerous dog enforcement; dog license compliance.
• What They Do Not Handle: Cats, livestock, wild animals, or landlord-tenant pet disputes.
• Location: 544 Mulberry Street, Newark, OH 43055.
• Operational Scope: Responds to calls throughout all townships and municipalities within Licking County.

2. Licking County Humane Society (LCHS)

The Licking County Humane Society is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. While it is not a government department, LCHS employs state-commissioned Humane Agents empowered under ORC Chapter 959 to investigate allegations of animal abuse, neglect, and illegal animal fighting.

• Primary Jurisdiction: Physical abuse, severe neglect, lack of adequate shelter or food, abandoned pets, and legal impoundment of neglected animals (cats, dogs, small pets, and livestock).
• What They Do Not Handle: Routine stray dog pickup or leash law enforcement (which belongs to the Dog Warden).
• Location: 825 S. SE 30th Street, Heath, OH 43056.

3. Licking County Health Department

The Licking County Health Department intervenes whenever domestic or wild animals bite a human, posing a potential exposure to the rabies virus.

• Primary Jurisdiction: Rabies prevention, mandatory 10-day bite quarantines, and processing animal tissue for laboratory rabies testing.
• Role: Health officials coordinate with local veterinarians, law enforcement, and victims to enforce quarantine orders on biting animals, regardless of vaccination status.

4. Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODNR)

Nuisance or injured wildlife falls under the regulation of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

• Primary Jurisdiction: Wild animals such as raccoons, opossums, coyotes, deer, bats, and birds of prey.
• Role: ODNR sets regulations for wildlife handling. County dog wardens and local police generally do not trap or remove healthy nuisance wildlife from private residential structures. Property owners typically must contract a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO).

Agency Contact and Responsibility Comparison

The following table outlines which organization to contact based on the specific issue encountered in Licking County.

Ohio Dog Laws and Licensing Requirements

Pet owners in Licking County must adhere to state statutes and local regulations designed to protect public safety and ensure animal welfare.

Mandatory Dog Licensing

Under ORC 955.01, every owner or keeper of a dog more than three months of age in Licking County must purchase a license annually.

• Registration Period: The standard licensing renewal period runs from December 1 through January 31 each year.
• Late Fees: Purchasing a tag after January 31 incurs an automatic statutory penalty equal to the cost of the tag.
• Where to Purchase: Licenses can be purchased online via the Licking County Auditor’s portal, in person at the Licking County Dog Shelter, or at designated community vendor locations during tag season.
• Purpose: Licensing fees fund the daily operations of the county dog shelter, including food, medical care, rescue transport, and dog warden patrol vehicles. A tag also serves as the legal identification needed to reunite lost dogs with their owners quickly.

Confinement and Running-at-Large Laws

Ohio law requires dog owners to keep their animals under reasonable control at all times. ORC 955.22 dictates that a dog must be confined to the owner’s property by a physical fence, electric fence, tether, or secure enclosure, or kept on a leash under the direct control of a capable person when off the property.

Allowing a dog to roam freely off your property is a minor misdemeanor for a first offense, with penalties escalating for repeated infractions or incidents involving property damage or bodily injury.

Dangerous and Vicious Dog Designations

Ohio state law classifies dogs involved in aggressive incidents into three distinct legal categories based on behavior, independent of breed:

1. Nuisance Dog: A dog that, while off the premises of its owner, has chased or approached a person in a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack without provocation.
2. Dangerous Dog: A dog that, without provocation, has caused injury (that is not a serious injury) to any person, has killed another dog, or has been subject to three or more nuisance designations.
3. Vicious Dog: A dog that, without provocation, has killed or caused serious injury to any person.

Owners of dogs designated as dangerous or vicious must comply with strict legal requirements, including purchasing specialized liability insurance, maintaining secure outdoor enclosures with locked tops and sides, posting warning signs, and microchipping the animal.

How to Handle Common Animal Situations in Licking County

1. What to Do If You Find or Lose a Dog

If you lose a dog or find a roaming canine within Licking County, follow these step-by-step procedures to ensure a safe outcome:

• Found a Stray Dog in Licking County?

  • Dog is Friendly & Contained
    1. Check for license tag.
    2. Call Dog Shelter (740-670-5555).
    3. Take to vet/shelter to scan microchip.
    4. Post on local Licking County lost/found groups.
  • Dog is Aggressive / Uncontained
    1. Do not approach.
    2. Note location & direction.
    3. Call Dog Warden / Dispatch immediately.
    4. Stay in safe vehicle/building.

• Check for Identification: If the dog is friendly and safe to approach, check for a county license tag or personal ID tag. The 5-digit number on an official Licking County tag can be looked up through the Auditor’s or Dog Shelter's database to identify the owner immediately.

• Contact the Dog Shelter: Report found dogs to the Licking County Dog Shelter & Care Center at (740) 670-5555. Filing a report helps match found animals with lost pet reports.

• Scan for a Microchip: Bring the dog to the county shelter, the Licking County Humane Society, or any local veterinary clinic to be scanned for an implanted microchip at no charge.

• File a Lost Pet Report: If you have lost your dog, visit the shelter in person at 544 Mulberry Street, Newark. Because physical descriptions can be subjective, visiting the stray holding kennels directly is the most accurate way to verify if your dog has been impounded.

• Check Redemption Requirements: Reclaiming an impounded dog requires proof of ownership (such as veterinary records or photos), proof of a current rabies vaccination, payment of daily board fees, and purchase of a current Licking County dog license if the animal is unlicensed.

2. Reporting Animal Cruelty or Neglect

Animal cruelty investigations in Licking County are managed by the Licking County Humane Society's Humane Agents.

• Recognizing Neglect: Under Ohio law, failure to provide adequate food, clean water, sanitary shelter protecting the animal from extreme weather, or necessary veterinary care constitutes neglect.
• Gathering Information: Before reporting, note the exact address, date, time, types of animals involved, and specific conditions observed. Clear photographs or video evidence taken from public property can assist agents in establishing probable cause.
• Submitting a Report: Contact the LCHS Humane Investigations Department directly. Reports can often be submitted confidentially.
• Emergency Situations: If an animal is in immediate, life-threatening danger (such as an animal locked in a hot car in direct sunlight), contact local law enforcement (Newark Police, Heath Police, Pataskala Police, or the Licking County Sheriff's Office) immediately alongside the Humane Society.

3. Managing Animal Bites and Rabies Quarantine

If an animal bites a human and breaks the skin in Licking County, state public health regulations mandate specific actions:

1. Seek Medical Care: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water immediately and consult a medical professional. Healthcare providers in Ohio are legally required to report animal bite incidents to local public health authorities.
2. Report the Bite: File a report with the Licking County Health Department and the Licking County Dog Shelter.
3. Mandatory 10-Day Quarantine: By order of the health commissioner, the biting animal (dog, cat, or ferret) must undergo a strict 10-day quarantine period from the date of the bite. This rule applies regardless of whether the animal is currently vaccinated against rabies.
4. Quarantine Location: In most non-aggressive cases involving owned pets, the quarantine can be completed at the owner's home. The animal must remain indoors or on a short leash within a fenced yard, restricted from contact with other animals or non-family members. If the owner cannot safely isolate the animal, it may be quarantined at the county shelter or a local veterinary clinic at the owner's expense.
5. Health Release: At the conclusion of the 10 days, a licensed veterinarian or health official must evaluate the animal to confirm it shows no signs of rabies before releasing it from quarantine.

4. Dealing with Nuisance and Sick Wildlife

Neither the Licking County Dog Shelter nor the Humane Society handles routine wildlife encounters, such as raccoons in an attic, skunks under a porch, or opossums in a backyard.

• Healthy Wildlife: If wildlife is outdoors and behaving normally, leave the animal alone. In Ohio, it is common to spot coyotes, foxes, and deer near urban corridors in Newark, Granville, and Pataskala.
• Sick or Abnormally Behaving Wildlife: If a wild animal exhibits signs of neurological illness (such as staggering, disorientation, unprovoked aggression, or paralysis during daylight hours), keep children and pets indoors and contact the Ohio Division of Wildlife District One Office or local law enforcement dispatch for assistance.
• Private Property Removal: Property owners who need nuisance wildlife trapped and removed from chimneys, attics, or crawlspaces must hire a state-certified Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator. A searchable registry of licensed trappers is available via the ODNR Division of Wildlife website.

Feline and Stray Cat Regulations

A common point of confusion for Licking County residents is the management of free-roaming, stray, or feral cats.

• No County Cat Leash Law: Unlike dogs, there is no county-wide statute in Licking County or state law in Ohio requiring cats to be licensed or kept indoors, nor is there a county agency mandated to pick up stray or roaming cats.
• Municipal Ordinances: Some individual municipalities within Licking County have specific code ordinances regarding cat overpopulation, feeding stray animals, or property trespass. Residents should verify their specific city or village code.
• Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR): Non-profit organizations and rescue groups operating in Licking County advocate for TNVR to manage community cat populations. Under TNVR programs, outdoor cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies, ear-tipped for identification, and returned to their outdoor territory.
• Cat Surrenders: Residents seeking to surrender a pet cat or a found litter of kittens must contact private shelters like the Licking County Humane Society or regional rescue groups. Surrenders typically require an appointment and depend on kennel availability.

Contact Directory

For immediate assistance, use the official contact details below for animal control, public safety, and welfare organizations in Licking County:

• Licking County Dog Shelter & Care Center
  • Address: 544 Mulberry St, Newark, OH 43055
  • Phone: (740) 670-5555
  • Primary Role: Stray dogs, licensing, dog bites, dangerous dogs.
• Licking County Humane Society
  • Address: 825 S. SE 30th St, Heath, OH 43056
  • Phone: (740) 344-3622
  • Primary Role: Abuse/neglect investigations, adoptions, low-cost clinic.
• Licking County Health Department
  • Address: 675 Price Rd, Newark, OH 43055
  • Phone: (740) 349-6535
  • Primary Role: Rabies reporting, bite quarantine protocols.
• Licking County Sheriff's Office (Dispatch)
  • Address: 155 E Main St, Newark, OH 43055
  • Phone (Non-Emergency): (740) 670-5500
  • Primary Role: After-hours public safety emergencies involving aggressive animals.
• ODNR Division of Wildlife (District 1 Office)
  • Phone: (614) 644-3925
  • Primary Role: State wildlife regulations, game warden dispatch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Licking County have a dog leash law?

Yes. Under Ohio Revised Code 955.22, dog owners throughout Licking County must keep their dogs under control at all times. This means animals must be secured on the owner's property or kept on a physical leash under the control of a handler when off the property. Allowing a dog to run at large is a legal violation.

Who do I call for an animal emergency after regular business hours?

For urgent emergencies after hours—such as an ongoing attack by an aggressive dog, a severe bite, or a dangerous animal blocking public access—call the Licking County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch at (740) 670-5500 or your local municipal police department (e.g., Newark, Heath, or Pataskala Police). Dispatch officers can contact the on-call County Dog Warden if necessary.

How much does a dog license cost in Licking County, and when is it due?

Standard annual dog licenses in Licking County cost $20 per dog if purchased during the renewal window between December 1 and January 31. Licenses purchased after January 31 incur a mandatory $20 statutory late penalty, bringing the total cost to $40 per dog. Multi-year and permanent licenses are also available directly through the Licking County Auditor's office.

Will animal control pick up stray cats in Licking County?

No. The Licking County Dog Shelter operates strictly under state mandates governing dogs and does not have the legal authority, facilities, or funding to impound stray cats. Residents dealing with stray or feral cats should contact private non-profit rescue organizations, such as the Licking County Humane Society, to inquire about available Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) programs or scheduled shelter surrender procedures.

What should I do if I suspect an animal is being abused or neglected?

If you witness physical abuse, extreme deprivation of food or water, or severe neglect, report the situation to the Licking County Humane Society's Humane Investigations unit at (740) 344-3622. Provide exact address details and any documented evidence. If an animal is in immediate danger of death, contact your local police department or sheriff's office immediately.

What happens if my dog bites someone in Licking County?

State public health regulations require the bite incident to be reported to the Licking County Health Department. The dog must complete a mandatory 10-day rabies observation quarantine, typically conducted at the owner's home if the enclosure is secure. You must keep the dog isolated from non-family members and other animals during this window, after which a veterinarian must clear the animal.

Recommended Next Steps

If you are a Licking County resident dealing with an animal issue, take the following actions:

1. Register Your Canines: Purchase your annual Licking County dog license before January 31 via the Licking County Auditor's portal or at the Dog Shelter to ensure compliance with ORC 955.01 and guarantee your pet can be identified if lost.
2. Save Emergency Contacts: Program the non-emergency numbers for the Licking County Dog Shelter ((740) 670-5555) and the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch ((740) 670-5500) into your phone for immediate access during an incident.
3. Address Wildlife Issues Early: If wild animals are nesting near your house foundation or roofline, consult a licensed Ohio Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator before structural damage occurs or young are born.