Boone County, Indiana Sheriff's Office - Sheriff Mike Nielsen

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

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.

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. 

There is not currently an Indiana specific certification for Animal Control Officers. However, the current ACO, Deputy Fisher, is an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy graduate and after completing the third section of training in October, she will be a Nationally Certified Animal Cruelty Investigator. Additionally, she has attended many animal related trainings and is scheduled to attend many more.

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.

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

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.