Animal Services

Commitment to Animal Welfare in Putnam County

Putnam County Animal Shelter is dedicated to improving the well-being of animals in our community. Part of this mission includes providing residents with the resources they need to make informed decisions for their pets and to help strays. In this section of our website, you’ll find helpful tips and links for various situations. If you still have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re here to help.

Cruelty & Neglect

Report Animal Cruelty

Animals rely on compassionate people like you to speak up for them when they’re in need. If you know of an animal that has been abandoned, neglected, or mistreated, please report it so we can investigate or direct you to the appropriate resource. Time is critical—a single day can feel like an eternity for an animal in distress.

Report Cruelty & Neglect

Report Animal Cruelty

To report cruelty, please call us at (304) 586-0249 and leave a confidential voicemail. Be sure to provide the street address and zip code where the animal is located. If possible, include a return phone number so our dispatcher can follow up with you for any additional information.

We take every report of animal cruelty very seriously, and all calls are treated with complete confidentiality. The Putnam County Animal Shelter is responsible for managing animal control and neglect complaints within our jurisdiction.

Please Note: We do not pick up healthy community cats or kittens.

How to Report

Please fill out the form on this page or call our office.

Report Cruelty & Neglect

Recognizing Animal Cruelty

Here are some signs that an animal may be suffering from cruelty or neglect:

Extremely thin, starving animals
Visible wounds on the body
Patches of missing hair
Limping or difficulty moving
Dogs repeatedly left alone without food, water, or shelter, often chained or confined in a yard
Animals abandoned by their owner

Physical abuse, such as an owner striking an animal
Tick or flea infestations
Flystrike—open wounds on ears or nose caused by biting flies
Injuries or illnesses that have not been treated by a vet
Embedded collars or chains around the neck
Severely matted fur
Intentional animal fighting

Cruelty & Neglect Report Form

Your Information

You can also report anonymously.

Your Name

Phone

Email

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City ZIP / Postal Code

Who is this Complaint Against?

Name(Required)

Phone(Required)

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City ZIP / Postal Code

Animal Type(Required)

If Other, Please Explain

What is the primary color of the animal(s)?(Required)

Please Select Any of the Following that Apply(Required)

If Other, Please Explain

Date of Incident(Required)

mm/dd/yyyy

Plesae describe the situation in detail.(Required)