Services & Programs

General Shelter Questions
Adoption Questions
Questions about surrendering
Volunteer Questions

General Shelter Questions:

How do I report an animal cruelty or neglect situation in Lake County?
If you suspect that you may have witnessed an act of animal cruelty or animal neglect in Lake County, contact the humane agent at 440-951-6122 ext. 105. If it is after normal business hours, contact your local police department.

How long are animals held at Lake Humane Society before going up for adoption?
Every animal that comes into LHS is evaluated for temperament. All dogs receive a temperament test, heartworm test (over 6 months), de-worming, flea treatment, initial vaccines, rabies vaccine (over 4 months), physical examination from our veterinarian, and they are all spayed or neutered before they are available to adopt. All cats receive a feline leukemia test, de-worming, flea treatment, initial vaccines, rabies vaccine (over 4 months), physical examination from our veterinarian, and they are all spayed or neutered before they are available for adoption. The process can take as little as a couple of days or as much as a couple weeks depending on the animal and when they are surrendered.

How long are animals held at Lake Humane Society before they are euthanized?
Lake Humane Society does not euthanize animals because of the length of time that they have been at the shelter. We euthanize animals based on their health and their temperament. Even with the large amount of volunteers that come to our shelter daily to interact with the animals out of their cages, it is still possible for our animals to become what we call “cage crazy” or “kennel crazy”. These animals exhibit behaviors such as spinning in their cage, biting at the cage doors, self-mutilation, and many times aggression. If an animal reaches a point where it becomes aggressive and cannot be safely cared for or adopted out, then that animal may be euthanized. Since each circumstance is different, there is no time limit on how long an animal can stay at the shelter. Lake Humane Society housed a rabbit for over a year before we could find a home for him.

What is the difference between Lake Humane Society and the Lake County Dog Warden?
Many people confuse our facility located in Mentor with the Lake County Dog Shelter, which is located in Perry. Although there are several differences between the two facilities, the main difference is in the funding and the animals that we house. LHS is a non-profit organization. That means that we rely solely on donations in order to care for the animals that we house. The Lake County Dog Warden is a self-funded government agency. They use the funds that are collected from the sale of Lake County dog licenses in addition to donations to care for their animals. The Lake County Dog Warden is responsible for handling stray dogs roaming within Lake County and ensuring that dogs living in Lake County are properly licensed, as required by law. The Lake Humane Society houses any type of domesticated animal including cats, dogs, birds, small animals, farm animals, and exotic pets. Lake Humane Society also employs a humane agent who is responsible for investigating animal neglect or cruelty calls within Lake County. Both facilities provide their animals with proper care and work hard to find them homes.

Why do I have to license my dog?
Ohio law requires that all dogs living in Ohio be properly licensed. For more information on licensing, contact the Lake County Dog Warden at 440-350-2640

What is the truth about neutering and spaying?
Lake Humane Society promotes spaying and neutering to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our community. We do this by ensuring that all cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, and rabbits are spayed or neutered before they go up for adoption. The veterinarians at LHS perform early spaying and neutering on kittens and puppies that have reached 2 lbs. in weight. Studies show that these young animals can safely go under anesthesia and have this type of surgery.

Adoption Questions:

I want to adopt a pet. What do I do?
There is a large variety of animals at LHS that are waiting to find their forever homes. If you think you may be interested in adopting, LHS invites you to come to our shelter and visit. It is always best to come in and look at the animals rather than calling because new animals arrive daily. Once you find an animal that you may be interested in you may visit that animal in one of our “friendship rooms”. If you feel that the animal may be a good fit for your home and lifestyle, then you are required to fill out an adoption application.

Why was my application denied?
When adopting out our animals we want to ensure that they find a permanent and suitable home. These animals have already been displaced once (many of them several times) and we feel that we owe it to them to find the best possible home for them. We do verify ownership of your home. But don’t worry if you rent, we just need permission from your landlord that the desired animal is allowed to live at the residence. In addition, some animals may have special adoption requirements. If you do not meet requirements for a particular animal, that doesn’t mean that there may not be another animal that will fit in perfect in your home.

What if the animal I adopt doesn't get along with a member of my family, my roommate, etc.?
LHS recommends that all family members or any persons living in the home be present when you are choosing a new pet. If you adopted an animal and you feel that the animal is not fitting into your home, then we want you to bring the animal back to our shelter so that we may find a home that is more appropriate for that animal.

What if the animal I adopt doesn't get along with my current pet?
When choosing to add another animal to your home, LHS recommends that you choose an animal that has already lived with other pets. Many of our cats and dogs have profile sheets on their cages to let you know how they act around other pets. We also encourage dog visits if you have a dog and want to bring another dog into your home. These are done outside of our shelter in an open area so that both dogs are on neutral ground and do not feel threatened.

Questions about surrendering:

I need to give up my pet, what do I do?
If you can no longer keep your pet, you need to call the shelter at 440-951-6122 and the front desk will assist you. They will need to make sure that we have a cage available for the animal and set up an appointment time for you to bring the animal in.

I just lost my cat/dog in Lake County. What do I do?
If you lose your cat in Lake County or an area close to Lake County, we recommend that you call LHS and leave a lost report. This is the best way to ensure that if a stray comes into our shelter we can find its owner promptly. We also recommend contacting our area shelters, area veterinary clinics, pet stores, and local businesses. Placing an ad in the newspaper is also a good idea. If you have lost a dog we recommend you contact LHS as well as the Lake County Dog Warden at 440-350-2640. If a dog is picked up that is running at large it is taken to their facility which is located on NorthRidge Rd. in Perry. It is also good to contact area veterinary clinics, pet stores, local businesses, and the newspaper. It is important to make sure that your animal has proper identification tags on him/her at all times. Microchipping is also a good way to ensure that your animal will be returned to you. LHS hosts microchip clinics, call LHS for more information.

I just found a stray dog in Lake County. What do I do?
If you find a stray dog, you will want to contact the Lake County Dog Warden at 440-350-2640.

Why is there a fee to surrender an animal to Lake Humane Society?
Lake Humane Society is a non-profit organization. We are funded solely by donations. Your surrender fee covers only a small portion of the cost that we ensue while preparing each animal for adoption.

Volunteer Questions:

How old do I have to be to volunteer at the shelter?
You must be 18 years old to volunteer at Lake Humane Society. Our shelter currently does not have a youth volunteer program.

How many hours a week are required from a volunteer?
There is no minimum number of hours that a volunteer must work.

What types of things does a volunteer do?
LHS needs volunteers to help with cage cleaning, special events, fundraising, TLC, clerical work, and various other duties.

I want to volunteer. How do I get started?
Call LHS to find out when our next volunteer orientation is being held. You must fill out a volunteer application and attend orientation and training before you may begin volunteering.

Can I volunteer to work with a shelter in order to fulfill my community service hours?
If you have court ordered community service hours you need to call LHS and speak with the humane agent. It is possible for you to complete community service hours based on your offense. These hours are logged differently than regular volunteer hours.