WHAT IS A HUMANE OFFICER?

• A court-sworn law enforcement official appointed by a Humane Society following Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy.
• Authority granted by State law to enforce anti-animal cruelty laws and enforcing Ohio’s Revised Code 1717.01(b) and 959.
• Continued assessment of Qualified Immunity and The Continuum of Probable Cause.

Rescue Village employs 3 sworn Humane Officers. Rescue Village’s Humane Investigations Department serves Geauga County only.

HOW DOES RESCUE VILLAGE RECEIVE COMPLAINTS?

Rescue Village receives complaints from the general public via phone, email, in-person, or by completing the Report Animal Cruelty form. These complaints come from neighbors, family members, service providers, delivery people or concerned citizens.

Referrals also come from the city, county, and state agencies partnered with Rescue Village.

On average Rescue Village Humane Agents annually complete:

• 500 New Complaint Visits
• 600 Follow-Up Visits
• 50 Impounds

Rescue Village does not provide 24-hour emergency humane officer services or veterinary care for owned pets or found/stray animals. All injured, stray dogs found in Geauga County should be taken to the Geauga County Dog Warden.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A COMPLAINT IS RECEIVED?

All complaints are investigated and entered in our database as subject to public record laws.If an investigated complaint is found to be valid, the humane society takes the following steps:

• Educate the Owner
• Provide Resources
• Field Surrender
• Verbal Warning
• Written Warning–Notice to Comply

80-90% of the cases are resolved at this point. However, animals are considered property under the state of Ohio. Therefore, deeper investigation and court hearings may be necessary at this time.

Please note: submissions are confidential and you will not receive automatic follow-up regarding the outcome of your report.