Middleburg Heights Animal Control

Animal Control Department Resources

Emergencies – 911
Non-emergency (440) 243-1234
Animal control (440) 243-1234

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Division of Animal Control

The mission of the Division of Animal Control is to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of people and pets in the City of Middleburg Heights.

This is accomplished in part by maintaining humane and orderly control of all animals taken into the care of the Animal Control Officer (ACO).

Animal control professionals play a vital role in our safety and well-being. Their dedication and hard work, supported by the administration, helps make our city a good place for all creatures great and small.

Duties

The Animal Control Officer performs a number of duties:

  • Investigates complaints regarding animal nuisances, bites, cruelty and neglect
  • Implements domestic animal quarantines
  • Educates the public about animal issues
  • Enforces laws/ordinances pertinent to animals and pets
  • Provides care for animals in custody
  • Testifies in court as needed

Wildlife

The City of Middleburg Heights’ setting provides an abundance of wildlife to enjoy. However, situations can arise where wildlife becomes a nuisance. Through education and management we are promoting the control and enjoyment of our wildlife.

Helpful tips:

  • Seal off sheds and decks with hardware cloth or chicken wire installed at least six inches into the ground to prevent animals from burrowing.
  • Don’t leave or store garbage outside.
  • Treat your lawn for grubs. They are the main source of food for skunks. Raccoons like them too.
  • Remove any rotten wood from woodpiles. They attract insects and worms. Also, keep woodpiles six inches off the ground.
  • Limit bird feeding, and clear the area of loose seed daily.
  • Make sure your chimney has a cap. Inspect the soffit for breaches, and repair any you find as soon as possible. Raccoons are known to set up homes in attics and chimneys.

If your pet becomes lost:

  • As soon as you discover your pet is missing, call Animal Control at 440-243-1234. Provide a detailed description of your pet: his/her name, breed, sex and color. Also note if the animal is spayed/neutered, microchipped, or wearing a collar/tag. Provide your address, your phone number, and the date and time the pet went missing. Downloadable missing dog and missing cat forms are available on the forms section.
  • If possible, walk your neighborhood and look for your pet. Ask neighbors and people you meet if they have seen it. If your pet returns home, contact Animal Control so they are aware.
  • If you find or see a loose pet, contact Animal Control as soon as possible. If the animal is non-aggressive you can keep it until Animal Control can pick it up. If the animal is running loose, provide a detailed description, location last seen and direction of travel.
  • If your pet is picked up running loose, it will be taken to the Animal Control Building for safe keeping. If the animal has an ID, a county dog tag or microchip, you will be notified as soon as possible so you can re-claim your animal as soon as possible. There is an impound fee that is required to be paid when you pick up your pet. If the animal has no identification, a description will be recorded with Police dispatch and posted on the City’s website.
  • Middleburg Heights Animal Control des not accept animals from other municipalities. If you see a stray animal outside of the city limits, you may call Animal Control and provide a description, and you are also encouraged to call the Cuyahoga County Shelter at 216-525-7877.

Trapping

The City of Middleburg Heights offers the following services regarding the trapping of wildlife.

Residents are allowed to utilize their own traps but must notify the Animal Control Officer at 216-906-2571

Please contact the Animal Control Officer for trapping options for feral cats.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has the responsibility and resources to trap wildlife. The ODNR can be contacted at 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or wildinfo@dnr.ohio.gov.

Residents will be provided the services and resources by the ODNR to address any wildlife issue they may have. The cost of these services for coyote management may be eligible for reimbursement by the city.

For questions, please contact Chief Swanson.

Forms

See below for any required forms pertinent to your situation. Each can be downloaded and printed.

Pet Care Tips

Shelter

Dogs kept outside must have access to shade and cool clean water in the summer, and a covered, dry shelter in the winter. Pets should be brought inside when temperatures reach extreme levels in either direction.

Vehicles

NEVER leave your pet in a parked car during hot or cold weather. Even with the car windows open, the temperature inside the car can reach more than 100 degrees in just a few minutes. Parking in the shade does not guarantee the safety of your pet.

The ASPCA provided the source material for these tips. For complete dog care tips, click the link below.

General Dog Care Tips from the ASPCA

During the holidays many people will be looking forward to spending time with friends and family, but this time of year can also be stressful, especially for pet owners.

Pets always manage to find ways to get into trouble and seemingly innocent behaviors, such as chewing or begging for table scraps, can quickly turn dangerous and with the holiday distractions, it can be difficult to keep a close eye on them.

A guide to help pet owners keep their furbabies safe during the holidays:

https://www.coverage.com/insurance/home/holiday-pet-safety-guide/

Dog License

All dogs kept as pets within city limits must have a license. These can be purchased through the Cuyahoga County fiscal officer, at Discount Drug Mart locations or at Cuyahoga County Dog Shelter.

Codified Ordinances

See below for a list of ordinances pertinent to pet ownership and animal husbandry within the city limits.
Chapter 618 – Animals

Dangerous Animals; Sick / Injured / Poisoned

See below for information pertinent to each situation.

Dangerous animals

The following animals are classified as “dangerous” and require a special permit to be kept within city limits. In addition some special housing restrictions may also apply. Please seek information under tab Middleburg Heights Codified Animal Ordinances below.

Dangerous animals/ Dangerous Wild Animals

(a) Pit bulls

“Dangerous wild animal” means any of the following, including hybrids unless otherwise specified:

(1) Hyenas;

(2) Gray wolves, excluding hybrids;

(3) Lions;

(4) Tigers;

(5) Jaguars;

(6) Leopards, including clouded leopards, Sunda clouded leopards, and snow leopards;

(7) All of the following, including hybrids with domestic cats unless otherwise specified:

(a) Cheetahs;

(b) Lynxes, including Canadian lynxes, Eurasian lynxes, and Iberian lynxes;

(c) Cougars, also known as pumas or mountain lions;

(d) Caracals;

(e) Servals, excluding hybrids with domestic cats commonly known as savannah cats.

(8) Bears;

(9) Elephants;

(10) Rhinoceroses;

(11) Hippopotamuses;

(12) Cape buffaloes;

(13) African wild dogs;

(14) Komodo dragons;

(15) Alligators;

(16) Crocodiles;

(17) Caimans, excluding dwarf caimans;

(18) Gharials;

(19) Nonhuman primates other than lemurs and the nonhuman primates specified in division (C)(20) of this section;

All of the following nonhuman primates:

(a) Golden lion, black-faced lion, golden-rumped lion, cotton-top, emperor, saddlebacked, black-mantled, and Geoffroy’s tamarins;

(b) Southern and northern night monkeys;

(c) Dusky titi and masked titi monkeys;

(d) Muriquis;

(e) Goeldi’s monkeys;

(f) White-faced, black-bearded, white-nose bearded, and monk sakis;

(g) Bald and black uakaris;

(h) Black-handed, white-bellied, brown-headed, and black spider monkeys;

(i) Common woolly monkeys;

(j) Red, black, and mantled howler monkeys.

“Dangerous wild animal” does not include a domesticated animal that is considered livestock as defined in section 901.70 of the Revised Code.

“Restricted snake” means any of the following:

(1) All of the following constricting snakes that are twelve feet or longer:

(a) Green anacondas;

(b) Yellow anacondas;

(c) Reticulated pythons;

(d) Indian pythons;

(e) Burmese pythons;

(f) North African rock pythons;

(g) South African rock pythons;

(h) Amethystine pythons.

(2) Species of the following families:

(a) Atractaspididae;

(b) Elapidae;

(c) Viperidae.

(3) Boomslang snakes;

(4) Twig snakes.

Sick or injured animals

If you encounter a sick or injured animal, do not approach or try to handle it. Contact Animal Control as soon as possible. If the animal is a threat to people or domestic animals, call the police.

Pet poisoning

If you believe your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, there is a paid service that provides pet poison related emergency consultation, 24/7 year round. The number to call is 888.426.4435. NOTE: A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

Surrendering an Animal

Although Middleburg Heights Animal Control does not accept surrendered animals, if you need to give up your animal you may contact us for assistance in finding it a new home. You can also contact the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) and surrender the animal to them for disposition.

Tri-City Bark Park Donations

Tri-City Bark Park

Donations will be used for improvements to the Tri-City Bark Park. Read the story at Cleveland.com.

Animal Shelter Donations

Animal Control Donations

It is the policy of the City of Middleburg Heights to accept donations to offset the costs of treatment and care of animals in the City’s possession.

Donations for animal care will are used for items, such as:

  • Medical treatment
  • Medication
  • Vaccinations
  • Animal food and supplies

Click here for the Middleburg Heights Animal Shelter webpages or or email Dani Farinacci, Animal Shelter Manager at dfarinacci@middleburgheights.com