Animal Control

Most stray dogs are simply lost dogs. To assist in locating the animal's guardian, or to find a lost dog, please contact the dog wardens, the Vermilion Police Department and local veterinarians. If the dog is wearing a dog tag, the dog warden can look up the owner's contact information.

Erie County Dog Warden

Phone: (419) 627-7607 / (888) 399-6065

Lorain County Dog Warden

Phone: 440-326-5997

The Humane Society of Erie County

1911 Superior Street, Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: (419) 626-6220

The mission of the HSEC is to educate residents on proper care, housing and support of animals; to prevent animal cruelty in Erie County and to provide temporary shelter to homeless animals. The HSEC does not receive any local, state or federal funding and is dependent on donations, memorials, adoption fees, grants and fundraising to cover operational costs.

The HSEC accepts owner surrender dogs & cats by appointment ONLY and provides the following veterinary care that is covered by adoption fees:

• 1st & 2nd Vaccines
• Rabies
• Fecal testing
• Deworming
• FIV/FLV Testing
• Heartworm Testing
• Revolution or similar to prevent fleas, ticks, etc.
• Spay or Neuter of all animals prior to adoption

Friendship Animal Protective League

8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 322-4321

Friendship Animal Protective League is a private, independent, non-profit humane society in Elyria, Ohio who owns and operate the largest animal shelter in Lorain County.

Friendship APL employs two full-time humane officers to respond to animal emergencies, allegations of cruelty or other problems. Humane cases range from animals hit by car, people keeping animals without providing proper food and water, people abusing animals or people who cannot afford to keep the animals they possess. The APL attempts to educate people about their responsibilities as animal guardians. If education and persuasion are not effective in changing behavior, the APL can seize the animals or refer the case to the prosecutor for the filing of criminal charges. The Humane Officers are appointed by the probate court on the recommendation of the Executive Director.

After carefully considering all the circumstances of a case, Friendship APL sometimes determines that the suspected animal abuser should be criminally prosecuted for his or her actions. Animal abuse cases are criminal cases in criminal court just like assault or theft. The APL works carefully with the prosecutor’s office to collect all the information that might be needed and sometimes petitions the court for a search warrant or to subpoena evidence.

ODNR Orphaned and Injured Wildlife

INJURED WILDLIFE

Please contact one of the following organizations BEFORE you try to assist a wild animal to protect both you and the animal.

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center
28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, OH 44140
Phone: (440) 871-2900

BACK TO THE WILD
4504 Bardshar Road, Castalia, OH 44824  
Phone: (419) 684-9539

FINDING AN INJURED/ILL ANIMAL AFTER 5 PM

If you can SAFELY capture the animal, place it in a small, escape-proof box, not much larger than the animal itself. This should significantly reduce the amount of thrashing around the animal may do causing further injury to itself. Do not offer food or water to it as even these seemingly helpful actions may harm or even kill the animal. Place the box in a dark, quiet location (garage, basement, closet) until it can be transported for a medical examination.

BABY WILDLIFE

"If you can still see skin through my feathers, I have fallen out of my nest prematurely. Please pick me up gently and place me back into my nest, or in an artificial nest very close to where you found me. My parents will NOT reject me because of the human scent...they can't even smell the human scent."

"If you cannot see any skin showing through my feathers, I am what's called a "fledgling" and am supposed to be out of my nest and on the ground. Over the next few days, I will be learning to fly, learning to eat and learning all my other survival skills. My parents are still taking care of me but only part-time. Please don't try to care for me as I won't be able to learn everything I need, in order to survive life in the wild."

"If you find us all alone, that's ok. That is how we are supposed to be. Our mothers stay away from us for hours, and even all day long. We do NOT need to be "rescued." In fact, trying to raise us usually kills us."

"Our mom will often make her nest in parking lot flower planters, suburban shrubbery, and school courtyards, often miles from water. This is normal. Please don't try to help her while she's nesting as this often leads to increased nest failures. And please don't try to help us after we hatch as this often leads to increased traffic fatalities."

As their natural habitat disappears, wild deer are adapting to life in urban and suburban areas: here they find protection from predators and plenty to eat. Unfortunately, many of their favorite foods include plants used for landscaping. Conflicts can be avoided if humans are willing to adapt as well. TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO YOUR YARD Plantings: Using “deer-resistant” plants will discourage feeding in our yard, but if natural food sources are scarce, even these plants will be eaten. Check with your local nursery for a list of recommended plants for your area. Repellents: This method can be successful, but instructions must be followed carefully. Repellents will not protect new growth and must be reapplied frequently. Many different brands are available, so ask a local nursery for recommendations. Fencing: A solid 6-foot fence may keep deer out (since they can't see what's on the other side). An 8-foot fence slanted out toward the approach area should keep all deer out. Alternately, individual plants can be fenced or screened to protect them.

• Coyotes are extremely adaptable. They are the only large wild predator that has extended its range despite human intrusion into habitat…..they now live in rural and urban areas from California to Maine, from alpine to desert habitat.
• Coyotes come into heat once a year in late winter or spring. About two months later they bear roughly six pubs, which begin to emerge from the den about two weeks later.
• They are less social than wolves or domestic dogs and usually hunt alone, although they sometimes hunt in pairs for larger prey.
• Coyotes are carnivores, and opportunistic. 90% of their diet is meat, carrion, mice, rats, ground squirrels, marmots, prairie dogs, other rodents, and the occasional bird. Any environment that attracts small rodents will, in turn attract coyotes.

So, since we all live in coyote country.....

• CLOSELY SUPERVISE SMALL CHILDREN, DOGS AND CATS AND KEEP THEM IN, ESPECIALLY AT DUSK AND DAWN.
• ELIMINATE HIDING COVER in landscaping and dwellings. Make it difficult for coyotes to approach unseen.
• INSTALL OUTSIDE MOTION DETECTORS.
• Predators follow prey. SECURELY STORE GARBAGE, GRAINS, PET FOODS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT ATTRACT RODENTS. Feed pets inside. Don't allow a build-up of uneaten bird seed near human residence.
• IF YOU ARE CONFRONTED.....stay calm, look big and tough, and back away. Remember, a friendly coyote is eventually a dead coyote.