Caring for Strays

12/8/2011

Collie Thousands of dogs are received by the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter each year. Our shelter staff works with each new arrival as follows:

Each dog is given a preliminary medical check and is wormed and vaccinated for distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus.
Each animal is evaluated for adoptability taking into consideration the health, age, and temperament of the dog.
Under Ohio law, a stray must be held for 72 hours prior to adoption. During this holding period, we interview potential adopters who are interested in a particular dog when he or she becomes available for adoption. The holding period is extended for dogs with current licenses (14 days) or other forms of identification (7 days).
During the holding period, every effort is made to locate the dog’s owner, including sending a certified letter to the owner of record for any dog with a current license.

About Our Care & Lodging

While in our care, dogs receive fresh water, quality food, and medication when necessary. The large and spacious kennels are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. Once a dog is available for adoption, volunteers walk and exercise him or her. They also bathe and groom them during their stay with us.

Although many dogs may be very fearful and nervous about their new surroundings at first, within a day or two of our special care, we usually see wagging tails and enthusiastic greetings from each of our special pups.