Updates to Animal Control & Sheltering Services
I can’t believe another year has gone by! We are still tallying up our annual statistics but I know we’ve had a very successful year reuniting lost pets and finding new loving homes or other responsible housing/rescues for our shelter pets. Our success is thanks to our community’s support so thank YOU for a great 2019!
We have updated our Animal Control and Shelter Services contracts with local municipalities for the year 2020. Most procedures will remain the same but if you are requesting an Animal Control Officer (ACO) to provide services within the town limits of Lakeville, North Liberty, Walkerton, New Carlisle, Roseland or on the Notre Dame/St. Mary’s/Holy Campuses, our office will have to first obtain approval from said municipality before we are able to send an ACO to assist you. One of our team members or ACO will record your contact information and take your “call request” then we will reach out to the municipality for approval. If the “call request” is denied by the town representative, you will be notified and given further instructions by a member of our team. If we are given permission to service your “call request” then an Animal Control Officer will be dispatched and you will not receive a follow-up call.
“Call Requests” for St. Joseph County (five digit addresses) or Mishawaka City residents do not require prior approval. A team member will record your contact information and call request/complaint then dispatch an ACO during business hours. An Animal Control Officer is available after-hours for emergency calls by calling (574) 255-4726 ext 8.
If a pet is found in our jurisdiction and is brought to the shelter as a stray, you will be required to give a detailed description of where the animal was found and provide your state issued ID/driver’s license upon intake of this animal to our facility. All of the municipalities we contract with require this information of us. Failure to provide an adequate “found” location and ID may result in our refusal to take in the animal and you to be directed elsewhere. Giving misinformation concerning where an animal was found or abandoning an animal with us may result in fines up to $2,500.00. Honesty is always the best policy and we will always try to help when we can!
If you are in need of surrendering your pet, please visit our link that discusses surrendering options: http://humanesocietystjc.org/pet-surrender/
As of January 1, 2020 we will no longer be providing animal control and shelter services for the Town of Osceola, IN. If you have an animal related issue in Osceola town limits, you will need to call the local police department or town hall for assistance.
If you have questions please view our Animal Welfare tab for links to other animal control related issues and for copies of local animal control ordinances. You can also contact us Monday-Saturday 8:30am-5:30pm at (574) 255-4726 ext 0. We will be closed January 1, 2020 but will reopen with normal hours on Thursday, January 2, 2020.
Happy New Year from all of us at The Humane Society of St. Joseph County!
~ Genny Carlson-Brown, Executive Director
(updated 1/2/2020)
