Animal Control

Home » Divisions » Animal Control

About Us

Services offered by the ACD:

-Assistance with stray/loose animals

-Animal cruelty investigations

-Animal welfare checks

-Vehicle unlocks for animals locked in vehicles

-Assisting with animals hit by vehicles, orphaned, or otherwise in distress

-Public education

Services NOT offered by the ACD:

-Wildlife trapping and removal

-Microchipping, vaccinating, nail trimming, grooming or other veterinatrian or specialy services.

-Rendering services/disposal of deceased animals

The mission of the Animal Control Division (ACD) of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office is to protect the health and safety of the county residents, to protect animals and promote their humane treatment, and to work in partnership with animal facilities to ensure these objectives are met.

The ACD uses the Boone County Animal Control Ordinance (2018-02) and the Indiana State Criminal Code (Title 35, Article 46) for enforcement purposes.

Animal Control Statistics

2020 Data Overview

Call Type	ACD	All Agencies
Animal Bite/Attack	51	87
Animal Complaint	61	198
Investigation/Animal	198	219
Locked Vehicle/Animal	3	18
Loose Animal	199	526
Ordinance Check/Animal	219	219
Return TX/Animal	488	509
Welfare Check/Animal	165	302

TOTAL	1384	2078

*67% of calls were handled by the ACD*

2020 Jurisdiction Specific

Jurisdiction	Calls	%
Advance	36	2%
County	601	29%
Jamestown	59	3%
Lebanon	769	37%
Thorntown	64	3%
Whitestown	197	9%
Zionsville	352	17%

Total: 2078

2014-2020 Call Total Comparison

Year	Total	Change from Previous Year
2014	896	n/a
2015	1048	17%
2016	940	(10%)
2017	1183	26%
2018	2409	104%
2019	2671	11%
2020	2078	(22)%

2020 Animals Taken to Humane Society for Boone County

Month	Advance	County	Jamestown	Lebanon	Thorntown	Whitestown	Zionsville		Invoiced
January		2		2			7		$1,975.00
February	1	3				1			$658.71
March		2		2	1	1	2		$714.27
April		4		1		1	2		$1,889.28
May			1	4	1	1			$582.13
June		2		5			3		$1,046.42
July				2	1				$457.14
August		1		2		2			$564.28
September		3		2	2				$1,003.57
October		2		6		2			$1,435.70
November			1	1					$85.71
December	3	4	1	6		1			$1,632.14

Total	4	23	3	33	5	9	14	91	$12,071.35

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Will my pet be euthanized if it is picked up by the Animal Control Officer?

No. The Animal Control Officer does not euthanize an animal that is simply stray/loose.

Q2: Where are stray/loose animals held?

The majority of the time, the care of the animal is transferred to the Humane Society for Boone County. Occasionally, an in-county boarding facility is used.

Q3: Why is there not a county-ran animal shelter?

Opening an Animal Shelter is tremendously more involved than just having a building to put animals in—there are architectural, utility, veterinarian, staffing, adoption, policy, liability, and funding issues to take into consideration. At this time, the relationship between the Humane Society for Boone County and the various boarding facilities within the county are meeting the needs of the Animal Control Division.

Q4: Is the Animal Control Officer certified in the state of Indiana?

There is not currently an Indiana specific certification for Animal Control Officers.

Q5: What is being done about the overpopulation of cats?

The Animal Control Division works closely with the Humane Society for Boone County to target areas with feral/community cat communities. Research heavily shows that TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) programs are the most humane, efficient way to decrease the cat population. The HSBC follows that research and the Animal Control Division assists when able.

Q6: I found an injured/orphaned/abandoned wildlife animal. What should I do?

Refer to the DNR’s website and/or consult with a wild life rehabilitator. Sometimes the best answer is to let the animal be.

Q7: I found a stray domestic animal. What should I do?

Post a picture of the animal on the Animal Control Facebook page and other relevant groups, take the animal to a vet to have it scanned for a microchip, and/or call and advise Dispatch.