Animal Care and Welfare
Want to report animal neglect/abuse in Indiana?
Select a county to find the contact information for making a report.
Animal welfare concerns involving dogs, cats and other pets should be reported to local animal control and law enforcement agencies. BOAH does not have the authority to investigate concerns related to dogs, cats or other pets.
Animal welfare concerns involving livestock, horses and poultry should be reported to local animal control and/or law enforcement agencies. Livestock, horse and poultry concerns, including carcass disposal, may also be reported to BOAH (see below).
Scroll down for detailed information about Indiana's abuse and neglect laws.
County Name Here
Adams County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 260-724-5345
Allen County Sheriff's Field Service Officers
Phone: 260-449-7491
Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control
Phone: 260-427-1244
Bartholomew Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-372-1935
City of Columbus
Phone: 812-379-1689
Blackford County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 765-348-0930 (ext. 1)
Boone County Sheriff's Office
Email: jmcclaine@co.boone.in.us
Phone: 765-482-1412 (select communications)
Carroll County Sheriff's Office
Phone:765-564-2413 (ext. 1)
Cass County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 574-722-6060
Clark County Animal Shelter
Phone: 812-280-5692
Jeffersonville Animal Shelter
Phone: 812-282-0071 (option 3)
Clay County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-446-2535 (option 5)
Clinton County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 765-654-5563 (ext. 1)
Crawford County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-338-3616
City of Washington Animal Control
Phone: 812-254-8226
Daviess County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 812-254-1060
Dekalb County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 260-925-3365 (option 1)
Muncie Animal Care and Services
Phone: 765-747-4851
Jasper Police Department
Phone: 812-482-2255
Dubois County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-482-3522
Elkhart Humane Society Animal Control
Email: info@elkharthumanesociety.org
Phone: 574-475-4732
City of Nappanee
Email: info@elkharthumanesociety.org
Phone: 574-475-4732
New Albany - Floyd County Animal Control
Paws-N-Claws
Phone: 765-294-5998
Fountain County Sheriff
Phone: 765-793-2449
Franklin County Animal Shelter
Phone: 765-207-0055 (small animal only)
Franklin County Sheriff's Department
Phone 765-647-4138 (option 1)
Fulton County Animal Control
Phone: 574-223-2819
Gibson County Animal Services
Phone: 812-386-8079
Marion Animal Care & Control
Email: bshrout@cityofmarion.in.gov
Phone: 765-668-4491
Phone: 765-753-2417 (Text only)
Greene County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-384-4411
City of Linton Police Department
Phone: 812-847-4411
City of Jasonville Police Department
Phone: 812-665-2694
City of Bloomfield Police Department
Phone: 812-384-4411
Greenfield/Hancock Co Animal Manage. Dept
Phone: 317-477-4367
Harrison County Animal Control
Phone: 812-738-8163
(Can go to https://hcanimalshelter.com/ and send a complaint)
New Castle/Henry Co Animal Shelter
Phone: 765-529-8131
Kokomo Humane Society
Phone: 765-452-6224
Huntington County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 260-356-8316
Jackson County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 812-358-2141 (option 4)
Jasper County Animal Control
Phone: 219-866-5756 (dogs and cats)
Jasper County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 219-866-7344
Jay County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 260-726-7541 (option 3)
Jefferson County Animal Control
phone: 812-265-2648
Knox County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-882-7660
City of Vincennes Animal Control
Phone: 812-882-8826
Warsaw Police Department
email: jcurtis@warsaw.in.gov
phone: 574-372-9515
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office
phone: 574-267-5667 (ext. 3)
Lagrange County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 260-463-7491 (option 1)
Livestock complaints
Lagrange County Animal Control
Phone: 260-585-3559 (cat and dog only)
ARK Animal Sanctuary/ARK Animal Rescue
Phone: 260-463-4142 (cat and dog only)
Lake County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 219-660-0000 (all domestic species)
Gary Animal Control
Phone: 219-660-0000
Lake County Animal Control/Shelter
Phone: 219-769-7016 (closed to public, but leave a message and they will call back - dogs & cats)
LaPorte Animal Control
Email: lpcoac@laportecounty.org
Phone: 219-326-1637 (all species)
Michigan City Animal Control
Phone: 219-874-3221 (dogs and cats)
Lawrence County Animal Control
Phone: 812-275-3316
Madison County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 765-642-0221 (ext.5)
Martin County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-247-3726
Miami County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 765-472-1322
Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County
Phone: 301-740-2511
Morgan County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 765-342-5544
City of Mooresville
Phone: 317-831-3434 (ext. 5)
Morgan County Animal Control
Email: animalcontrol@mchumanesoc.org
Email: breesolar@gmail.com
Newton County Animal Control
Phone: 219-285-6777
Noble County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 260-636-2182 (option 1)
Ohio County Animal Shelter
Phone: 812-438-9220
Orange County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 812-723-2417
Orange County Humane Society
Phone: 812-723-4142
Owen County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-829-4874
Perry County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-547-2441
Pike County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-354-6024
City of Winslow Animal Control
Phone: 812-582-0089
Porter County Animal Control
phone: 219-477-3110
Posey County Animal Control
Phone: 812-838-1320
Pulaski County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 574-946-6655
Putnam County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 765-653-5115
Humane Society of Putnam County
Email: hspcanimals14@gmail.com
Phone: 765-653-1943
Ripley County Sheriff's Office
phone: 812-689-5558
Rushville Animal Shelter
Phone: 765-932-4754
Shelby County Animal Control
Email: kbarrett@cityofshelbyvillein.com
Email: jlane@cityofshelbyvillein.com
Phone: 317-401-1409
Phone: 317-401-1401
Spencer County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-649-2286
Humane Society of St. Joseph County
Phone: 574-255-4726
South Bend Animal Resource Center
Phone: 574-235-9303
Starke County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 574-772-3771 (option 2)
Steuben County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 260-665-3131
Angola Police Department
Phone: 260-665-2121
Sullivan County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 812-268-4308 (option 1)
Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 765-423-9321
City of Lafayette
Phone: 765-807-1200
City of West Lafayette
Phone: 765-474-5222
Tipton County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 765-675-7004 (option 4)
Union County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 765-458-5194
County Dog Warden
Phone: 765-580-2800 (Dogs only)
Vanderburgh County Animal Control
Phone: 812-435-6015
Vermillion County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 765-492-3737
Vigo Co. Dispatch non-emergency line
Phone: 812-232-3801
Terre Haute Animal Control
Phone: 812-244-2530
Wabash County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 260-563-9223
Warrick County Animal Control
Phone: 812-897-6107
Washington County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 812-883-5999
City of Salem
Phone: 812-883-3673
Wayne County Sheriff's Office
Phone: 765-962-9523
Richmond Animal Control
phone: 765-962-9523
White County Animal Control
phone: 574-583-7103
City of Monticello
phone: 574-583-7103
Whitley County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 260-244-6410
Whitley County Health Department
Phone: 260-248-3121
County Map Legend
Indiana Animal Laws
- Livestock, Horse and Poultry
In cases involving livestock (including horses) and poultry, BOAH has jurisdiction to enforce the agency's standards of care (345 IAC 14). In addition, BOAH works in cooperation with local law enforcement or animal control to investigate violations of criminal code.
Reports of improper disposal of livestock and poultry carcasses will be reviewed by BOAH for appropriate action.
Suspected cases/complaints may be submitted to BOAH online via the online button below, by phone at (877) 747-3038, or via e-mail at animalhealth@boah.in.gov. Complaints must include contact information for the submitter to allow appropriate follow-up in case further information is needed.
Individuals submitting complaints will not be notified of the outcome of the investigation.
Animal Welfare/Dead Animal Complaint Form
For more information about Indiana's Livestock and Poultry Care Law click here.
Refer to the USDA weblinks for information about the federal Horse Protection Act. A video recording of a USDA informational webinar is also available from the Equine Disease Communication Center at this link.
- Dog, Cats and Other Small Animals
Enforcement of Indiana's neglect and abuse law for small (companion) animals falls to the jurisdiction of local animal control or law enforcement agencies. BOAH does not have the leading authority in these situations, except for licensed commercial dog breeding operations. Upon their request, BOAH will assist local animal control or law enforcement in assessing animals and their living conditions. BOAH will also evaluate the condition of the animals when requested by the court if charges are filed under the animal cruelty law (IC 35-46-3).
To report suspected abuse and/or neglect, contact your local animal control agency. If your county or city does not have an animal control agency, contact local law enforcement through the sheriff’s department for assistance. Often, animal control is a part of the sheriff's department.
- Retail Pet Stores, Rescues and Shelters
- IC 15-21 which will take effect on July 1, 2024, requires retail pet stores, animal care facilities, and animal rescue operations to register with BOAH.
- To learn more about the registration requirements for retail pet stores and animal care facilities please visit the links below
- Commercial Dog Breeders and Brokers
- IC 15-21 has amended the commercial dog breeder and broker requirements, the legislative change takes effect on July 1, 2024.
- A commercial dog breeder is defined as; a person who maintains more than 19 unaltered female dogs that are at least 12 months of age.
- A commercial dog broker is defined as; someone who sells at least 500 dogs in one calendar year OR are licensed with the USDA.
- To learn more about the registration requirements for commercial dog breeders and brokers, please click here
- IC 15-21 has amended the commercial dog breeder and broker requirements, the legislative change takes effect on July 1, 2024.
- Livestock Markets
In January 1998, the Board of Animal Health revised the rules regulating livestock dealers and markets. A new section in the rule addresses the care and handling of livestock at markets in Indiana. Every person licensed to operate a market facility (including livestock auction markets, stockyards and concentration points) in Indiana must maintain a minimum standard of care for animals in that facility. Livestock housed at a market for more than 24 hours must have access to feed and water.
Use of implements, such as electric prods, canes, whips, paddles or canvas straps, to drive animals must be limited only to the extent reasonably necessary to handle or drive livestock.
More information about livestock markets is online at: https://www.in.gov/boah/licenses-and-permits/livestock-market-licenses/
- Non-Ambulatory Animals
Occasionally, because of illness or injury, individual animals arrive at a market conscious, unable to walk or stand without assistance.
State law prohibits markets from accepting delivery of these nonambulatory (or "downed") livestock. However, market facilities in Indiana may euthanize the animal.
Markets must have written policies, procedures and equipment in place to handle animals that become nonambulatory after delivery to the facility.
By law, livestock that becomes nonambulatory after arriving at a market facility must be disposed of within 24 hours of discovery or receiving of notice of the animal's condition. Click here for dead animal disposal requirements.
More information about handling techniques for nonambulatory animals and a livestock handling guide can be obtained from the National Institute for Animal Agriculture at animalagriculture.org.
BOAH recognizes the American Veterinary Medical Association's guidelines for euthanasia of animals. The guidelines are available in PDF format for viewing.