Ohio Animal Welfare Laws allow the Humane Society of Summit County to rescue only abused, abandoned, or neglected animals. Please consult your local animal control agency regarding healthy stray animals and vicious animals. We are prohibited from handling wildlife.

The animal must be confined to the owner’s property – either chained, fenced, or in the residence for Humane Officers to investigate animal abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Physical abuse is an exception to confinement.

To file animal cruelty charges or physical abuse, our Humane Officers will need the assistance of the reporting party. Successful prosecution requires at least one witness to the abuse or a video. Humane Officers must also speak with the reporting party.

If you believe an animal is being abused, neglected, or abandoned, please complete the form on this page, or call the cruelty hotline at (330) 405-0620. Our Humane Officers are on the road throughout the day so, please leave a message and we will return your call. An officer will be paged once you have left a message. The Humane Officer must speak with the reporting party before assistance can be provided. Leave your name, call back number, type of animal, and nature of the problem.

If this is an emergency outside of regular business hours, please immediately call your local police department.

To investigate a report of animal abuse, abandonment, or neglect, our Humane Officers need the following information:

•  The name and phone number of the reporting party.
• The address where the animal(s) is located.
• What the problem is and when it was noticed.
• If possible, the name of the owner of the animal(s) or of the person committing the act of cruelty.