What is the difference between the county dog warden and the Portage APL humane officer?
The dog warden is a county employee and is required by Ohio law to pick-up all stray and vicious dogs and place them in the county dog pound where they are euthanized (killed) if not claimed by their owner or adopted out within three days. The humane officer is sworn in by a county probate judge. The humane officer is an employee of the Portage APL. This officer is empowered to investigate and enforce all Ohio animal cruelty/abandonment laws. The dog warden is a county employee. The humane officer is not.
