Dog Warden & Humane Officers
Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones, as Dog Warden, is committed to serving the community by protecting the health, safety and welfare of animals. BCSO’s Deputy Dog Wardens are primarily focused on domestic animal issues and the enforcement of dog laws. They are also certified humane officers.
In their role as Dog Warden, deputies respond to calls for dog abuse, abandonment or neglect, as well as dogs running at large or any other violation of dog laws. Removal of wild animals, including feral cats, is a service provided by commercial animal removal companies and not a Dog Warden responsibility. As Humane Officers, our deputies will respond to assist local law enforcement with injured or neglected animals. If it is unclear whether your situation requires the assistance of the Dog Warden or a commercial animal removal service, contact your local law enforcement agency for guidance.
Contacting the Dog Warden
Dog Licenses
Lost Pets
Adopting a Pet
Vaccinations
Animal Cruelty
Contacting the Dog Warden
BCSO Deputy Dog Wardens serve the cities of Hamilton, Middletown, Monroe and Trenton as well as the townships and villages of Butler County. Services are coordinated through your local law enforcement agency.
For animal-related issues in the City of Fairfield, call the Fairfield Police at 513-829-8201.
For animal-related issues in the City of Hamilton, call Butler County dispatch at 513-785-1300.
For animal-related issues in the City of Middletown, call the Middletown Police at 513-425-7700.
For animal-related issues in the City of Monroe, call the Monroe Police at 513-539-9234.
For animal-related issues in the City of Oxford, call the Oxford Police at 513-523-4321.
For animal-related issues in the City of Trenton, call the Trenton Police at 513-988-6341.
For animal-related issues in the West Chester Township, call West Chester PD at 513-777-2231.
For all other townships and villages, call the Butler County Sheriff dispatch center at 513-785-1300.
If you have a question for a Deputy Dog Warden, call (513) 887-PAWS (7297).
Dog Licenses
Licensing your dog is required by law, in the State of Ohio. The license tag has an identification number that identifies you as the owner should the dog become lost or separated from you. If your dog is lost and taken to the humane society, it will be kept for 14 days, if it is wearing a license, before it is placed up for adoption. Without a license, the holding time is just 3 days. You can purchase your dog license from the Butler County Auditor, the Butler County Dog Wardens, or at one of the licensed vendors which are listed on the Auditors webpage. The Butler County Dog Wardens will also respond to your residence, during normal working hours, to sell you your annual dog license(s).
You can scan the QR code to begin the process of getting your dog tags, or you can follow this link: https://butlercountyohio.docupet.com/en_US/
Lost Pets
If you’ve lost your pet, visit every shelter. It’s important that you visit all the local animal shelters to look for your pet because animals can wander far from home. It’s also necessary for you to visit Animal Friends Humane Society in person as they do not take lost pet reports over the phone. If you don’t find your pet at the shelter, leave a lost pet report and current photo with their office staff.
Don’t delay in looking for your lost pet. Don’t assume that a shelter will house your animal any longer than a few days. The Ohio Revised Code requires Animal Friends Humane Society to house stray dogs that are not wearing a current county license for 72 hours. A stray dog that enters their facility wearing a current county license will be held for 14 days. The State of Ohio does not require stray cats to be held for any length of time.
You may also post information about lost pets on the Dog Warden Facebook page to share it with other Butler County residents. This does not take the place of visiting the animal shelter, nor does it constitute filing a lost pet report. The animal shelter does not check against Facebook postings to identify animals.
Adopting a Pet
Pet adoption information can be found on the Animal Friends Humane Society website.
Vaccinations
Learn more about vaccinations to shield against canine diseases.