Admissions – Stray Pets & Owner Surrenders
Stray Pets
Surrendering Your Pet
Before You Decide to Surrender
We understand that life sometimes throws us curve balls which result in a need for people to re-home their pets. It can be a difficult and painful decision to surrender an animal. Please call the shelter at 740-323-2100 to discuss surrendering your pet.
If you are considering surrender due to behavioral issues or because your pet has become unmanageable in some way, we encourage you to discuss your situation with someone at the shelter. We may be able to offer solutions or resources that would allow you to live harmoniously with your pet dog or cat.
What You Should Know
There is a common misconception that the shelter is ready and able to accept any animal at any time. The Licking County Humane Society is a managed-intake facility. As the shelter has limited space and resources, we are unable to accept animals on the spot in the majority of cases.
We are only able to accept adoptable pets of reasonably sound health and temperament. Animals with health or behavioral issues that could pose a risk to humans, other animals or property, or any other condition that would prohibit them from placement in an adoptive home, cannot be accepted.
A donation at time of surrender is appreciated to help with cost of care.
What Should I Do If I Need to Surrender a Pet?
Contact the Shelter at (740) 323-2100 or info@lchspets.org and speak with a coordinator to discuss your request.
An intake coordinator will either schedule an appointment for intake or do their best to provide alternative resources.
Prior to your appointment, contact your veterinarian and obtain all medical and shot records for your pet.
When you arrive, you will be asked to complete a surrender form, provide information about the pet and pay the surrender fee.
Please note that if at any time during the intake, it is determined that the pet does not meet our health and temperament requirements, we will decline to accept the animal.
***We do NOT accept stray animals.
***We do NOT accept wildlife (ducks, rabbits, squirrels, etc.). If you come upon wildlife that appears injured or orphaned, please contact the appropriate licensed Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitator. You can find a list of Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators and lots of other helpful information about injured/orphaned wildlife by clicking on the button below.
2023 By The Numbers
Adoptions in 2023: 1,560
Spay/Neuter in 2023: 2,562
Volunteer Hours in 2023: 9,960
A typical rule of thumb is to determine whether a shelter saves more than 90% of its animals. That is its Live Release Rate. The annual Live Release Rate is calculated by dividing the total live outcomes (adoptions, outgoing transfers, and return to owner/guardian) by total outcomes (total live outcomes plus euthanasia not including owner/guardian requested ethanasia or died/lost in shelter/care). Today, many leaders are raising the bar and stating that the real No Kill Live Release Rate should be 95%.
Licking County Humane Society is a non-profit organization devoted to the humane treatment of animals.