At LHS, we care for any and all domestic pets. We mainly care for cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs and other small animals. We get the occasional farm animal or exotic pet from time to time.
General Questions
What types of animals does LHS care for?
Where is LHS located? When can I visit the shelter?
Lake Humane Society is located at 7564 Tyler Boulevard in Mentor. Visiting hours at LHS are: Mondays & Thursdays from 12:00-7:00PM and Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 12:00-5:00PM. On Wednesdays & Major Holidays, LHS is closed to the public. Need directions? Click below! Visit Us
How is LHS funded?
Lake Humane Society runs solely on donations made by our loyal supporters. We do not receive any government funding of any sort, nor are we operated or funded by any national humane organizations (such as APSCA or HSUS). All of the invaluable programs and services we provide to our community are funded by donations. These programs & services include: Adoption Services, Pet Surrender Services, Humane Investigations within Lake County, Humane Education Program and so much more. We cannot continue to be a trusted resource to the Lake County community without your support. Encourage animal lovers to donate locally to directly support their community!
How can I help the animals at LHS?
ADOPT: When considering adding a new companion to your family, please make adoption your only option. There are so many homeless pets around the world due to overpopulation. Whether you adopt from LHS or another shelter or rescue group, you are saving not just one life, but two. Looking for a specific pet and not having any luck? Use PetFinder.com – It is a great resource and will connect you with various shelters and rescue groups. Interesting fact Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. – ASPCA
DONATE: Lake Humane Society runs solely on donations. LHS does not receive funding from the government or any national humane organizations (ASPCA/HSUS). All of the invaluable programs and services that we provide to our community are made possible thanks to our loyal donors. Donating to LHS, especially when done so consistently, helps to make a difference.
VOLUNTEER: We save thousands of animals each year, but we could not accomplish that without our dedicated volunteers and fosters. Our volunteers help us by caring for our animals, fostering pets with special needs, working our off-site events, walking our dogs, assisting with cleaning and clerical duties and SO much more. With a small staff and limited resources and space, our volunteers are the lifeblood of this organization.
ADVOCATE: Be another voice for the voiceless animals in need. Help us spread awareness by promoting our cause, sharing our social media posts, talking about animal rights, adoption and the proper treatment of pets.
How long are animals held at Lake Humane Society before going up for adoption?
The process can take as little as a couple of days or as much as a couple weeks depending on the animal and when they are surrendered. All dogs receive a SAFER temperament assessment, heartworm test (over 6 months), de-worming, flea treatment, initial vaccines, rabies vaccine (over 4 months), physical examination from our vet, and they are all spayed/neutered and microchipped before they are available for adoption. All cats receive a feline leukemia/FIV/Heartworm Combo test, de-worming, flea treatment, initial vaccines, rabies vaccine (over 4 months), physical examination from our veterinarian, and they are all spayed/neutered and microchipped. The multi-step process takes time!
How long are animals held at Lake Humane Society before they are euthanized?
Lake Humane Society does not euthanize for time or space. Our shelter runs on a managed intake basis. This means that once we meet max capacity, we do not accept new pets until our existing pets are adopted. When we are at capacity, we instate a waiting list for new pets that need to be surrendered and our intake is based on priority and availability. Managed intake is what works best for us and ensures we give our pets the best care possible. We do not have time or space limitations for our adoptable animals. We’ve had pets in our care for up to 2 1/2 years before they are adopted into loving homes. We believe that all healthy, happy pets deserve a second chance at life, no matter how long it takes for their perfect family to find them!
We only euthanize due to severe health or behavioral issues (aggression). We want to ensure that animals adopted from our shelter are safe for both our staff/volunteers and the community. If an animal has behavioral issues, we try to work on behavior modification. If we do not have the resources or ability to help the animal, we look into rescue groups who might be able to give the animal the one-on-one care he/she needs. Animals with severe, untreatable, or life-threatening health problems are also humanely euthanized. While we pride ourselves in providing the best medical attention we can (with the help of our Angel Fund), sometimes an animal’s injuries or medical issues are too far along and at that point we choose to humanely end their pain and suffering, surrounded by love. Despite our high live-release rate each year, we choose to not use the label “no-kill” as it has different interpretations to different people and can be misleading due to the inconsistency in definition.
What is the difference between Lake Humane Society and the Lake County Dog Warden?
Many people confuse our facility located in Mentor with the Lake County Dog Shelter located in Painesville. The Lake County Dog Warden is a self-funded government agency. They use the funds that are collected from the sale of Lake County dog licenses to care for their animals. The Lake County Dog Warden is responsible for handling ALL stray dogs roaming within Lake County and ensuring that dogs living in Lake County are properly licensed, as required by law. The Lake Humane Society houses any type of domestic pet including cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, small animals and farm animals. We also provide many programs and services to our community, including Humane Investigations. LHS also differs from the Dog Warden’s office as we do not receive any government funding.
Adopting a New Pet at LHS
What does the adoption fee include?
All of our dogs and puppies are spayed/neutered prior to being placed for adoption. They receive a physical examination from our veterinarian and are tested for heartworm. All of our dogs receive age-appropriate vaccinations and they are treated for fleas and worms. Adoption fees also include microchipping. All of our cats and kittens are spayed/neutered prior to being placed for adoption. They receive a physical examination from our veterinarian and are tested for heartworm. All of our cats receive age-appropriate vaccinations and they are treated for fleas and worms. Our cats also receive a Feline Leukemia/FIV Combo test. Adoption fees also include microchipping. Our adoption fees cover only a portion of the care our pets receive while at the shelter.
I want to adopt a pet. What is the adoption process?
If you think you may be interested in adopting a pet from LHS, we invite you to come to our shelter and visit. It is always best to visit our website first to view our adoptable pets. Once you find an animal that you feel will be a good fit for both your home and your lifestyle, you may visit that animal in one of our “friendship rooms” and get to know them better! (We suggest bringing the whole family) When you find your perfect companion, a member of our adoption team will go over all of the needed information with you. It’s very important that all adopters understand that their new pet is a permanent member of their family.
Why was my application denied?
When adopting out our animals, we want to ensure that they find a permanent and suitable home. These animals have already been displaced once (some of them several times) and we feel that we owe it to them to find the best possible home for them. A loving forever home. Some pets may have special adoption requirements (such as age restrictions for children, special medical needs, daily exercise needs, etc). If you do not meet requirements for a particular animal, that does not mean that there may not be another animal that will be a perfect fit for your home. We only deny applications when it is in the best interest of both the animal and the family. Pets are a lifelong commitment and we want to be sure our animals don’t end up back in our shelter.
What if the animal I adopt doesn’t get along with a member of my family, my roommate, etc.?
LHS asks that all family members or any persons living in the home be present when you are choosing a new pet. We want to ensure that each member of the household is on board with adopting an animal and that they like the animal being considered. We also require a “meet and greet” where your existing dog(s) meet the potential new dog entering the home. It’s important that they get along and sometimes this may require multiple visits. Again, this is in the best interest of all involved. It’s very important that all animals are given the proper amount of time to adjust to their new environment. Each animal adjusts differently, so there is no set time for a “transition” period, but we recommend giving the animal at least one month to get settled in. Many of our animals have gone through a tough time and living in a shelter environment can be very stressful. Please give your new pet enough time to adjust and make sure you have the resources needed, whether it is training or a separate room for your pet to temporarily live in, in order to make the transition successful and as stress-free as possible. If you have questions or need assistance as your pet adjusts, please contact our Adoption Department for support and suggestions. If you adopted an animal and you feel that the animal is not fitting into your home (after giving the animal the proper time to acclimate), please contact our Intake Department at (440) 951-6122 and return the animal back to us. Since we know the animal and the shelter is somewhat familiar to them, it is best for the animal. We will also be able to find an appropriate home for the animal. There are many risks to posting a pet online and re-homing them with someone you do not know.
What if the animal I adopt doesn’t get along with my current pet?
When choosing to add another pet to your household, LHS recommends that you choose an animal that has already lived with other pets. Our cats, dogs and rabbits have profile sheets on their cages to let you know their experience with other pets. We also encourage dog meet and greets if you have a dog and want to bring another dog into your home. These are done outside of our shelter in an open area so that both dogs are on neutral ground and staff can assess. As stated above, it’s very important to give your new pet the proper time to adjust to his/her new environment. It is also extremely beneficial to slowly introduce your new pet to your existing pet(s). We recommend giving your new cat or dog access to a private area in your home (a spare bedroom for example) and let them stay in there for a few days (or longer, if needed). This will help them get used to the new noises and smells of your home. It will also help your pets gets used to the scent of your new pet.
I want a certain breed but shelters don’t always have them. Should I buy a pet?
We may not have specific animals/breeds someone is looking for. Please check out PetFinder.com if you are having trouble finding a specific breed. Adoption is always the best option!
Volunteer & Foster Program
How old do volunteers need to be?
Volunteers are required to be 16 years old or older. In order to work with our adoptable dogs or in customer service roles, volunteers must be 18 years old.
What type of commitment is required to be a volunteer?
A minimum of 4 hours per month is required to be considered an active volunteer at Lake Humane Society. Once a volunteer is considered inactive, they will need to go through orientation and training again to become active.
What does becoming a foster family entail?
LHS provides our foster families with all of the needed supplies (food, litter, medication, blankets, bowls, crates, etc.). Fosters will provide care for their new foster pet until we are able to place them up for adoption. Foster families may be required to bring their foster pet(s) back to the shelter for regular check ups. Fostering takes time and commitment, but it is such a rewarding experience. We need fosters to help with: orphaned kittens, orphaned puppies, mom cats and kittens, pets recovering from surgery, pets in need of “cage break”, etc.
Lost/Found Pets
I just lost my cat/dog in Lake County. What do I do?
If you lose your cat in Lake County or an area close to Lake County, we recommend that you call LHS and file a lost report with our staff. This is the best way to ensure that if a stray comes into our shelter we can find its owner promptly. We also recommend contacting other area shelters, your local police department, area veterinary clinics, pet stores, and local businesses. Placing an ad in the newspaper is also a good idea. If you have lost a dog we recommend you contact LHS as well as the Lake County Dog Warden at (440) 350-2640. If a dog is picked up that is running at large it is taken to their facility, which is located on North Ridge Road in Painesville. Making a flyer and hanging it around the area your pet was last seen is also very helpful. It is important to make sure that your animal has proper identification tags on him/her at all times. Microchipping is the best way to ensure that your animal will be returned to you. LHS offers microchipping by appointment. To schedule an appointment, email scheduling@lakehumane.org or call LHS at (440) 951-6122. Download and save our Lost Pet flyer for more information and to always be in the know: Download Flyer
I just found a stray dog in Lake County. What do I do?
If you find a stray dog, you will want to contact the Lake County Dog Shelter at (440) 350-2640. The Lake County Dog Warden is responsible for all stray dogs within Lake County.
Humane Investigations
How do I report an animal cruelty or neglect situation in Lake County?
If you suspect that you may have witnessed an act of animal cruelty, neglect or abuse in Lake County, contact our Humane Agent at (440) 951-6122, extension 105. If it is after normal business hours or an emergency that requires immediate assistance, contact your local police department. Our Humane Agent works limited hours and is not equipped to handle potentially violent or hostile situations, so in a time of serious need it’s best to contact the police. As with all of our programs/services, our Humane Investigations Department runs solely on donations.