Cleveland Kennel -Animal Control Services

If I could give anyone a zero star rating it would be this kennel. From the extremely rude people working the front desk to the conditions the animals are held in. I will admit that the condition of the building cannot be helped, and the volunteers are doing the best with what they are given. But that is not an excuse for the rudeness, unprofessionalism and lack of compassion I witnessed when I stopped by. The kennel has rows of pit bull confinements stacked on top of each other. The noise in there is awful. There are big sweet dogs mixed in with dogs that will aggressively bark at anything that moves, which means constant barking. Stuffed in the corner is a little dog section. Since that is what I was looking for, I made my way back there and fell in love with a shaking shivering little thing. When I went to go get more information the front desk lady (who acted as if my being there was an inconvenience) told me that they only transfer small dogs to the APL. There is no sign at the shelter saying the dogs aren’t up for adoption, and that policy isn’t listed on their website. When I called to ask about the policy I was quickly and rudely transfered to someone else (who didn’t answer, surprise surprise). I don’t want to suggest avoiding this kennel because if any dogs need to be saved, these dogs are first in line. However that kennel is an absolute hell and the city of Cleveland should be ashamed of itself.

I called to report an injured cat at the side of the highway. I gave its exact location. The lady said they would send someone out for it. The next day I drove by and the cat was still in the same spot, dead.
Thanks so much for your compassion and following through with what you say you’ll do.
I can’t even begin to describe how disappointed and disgusted I am.

Facility: One Star
Residents: WAY more than FIVE STARS.
PLEASE visit this kennel.
PLEASE take a dog home with you.
PLEASE save an innocent life.
5−28−12 update. Great news. The City of Cleveland continues its plan to build a new animal control services building. The original plan was to renovate, but now its plan is to build a new one in the same area. But because of soft soil a special foundation must be built at a cost of about $ 800,000. The city is also looking at different locations here, so construction is on hold until the site is chosen. Hopefully, the new facility will be built in 2013, at a building cost of $ 5.3 million plus any necessary foundation cost.
Over the years I’d hoped that this facility had improved, but after reading Cami T.‘s review, apparently it hasn’t. It’s still a single star. Twelve years ago the Cleveland Kennel was at the very bottom for any government funding, and that seems to be the case today. Disgraceful.
The ASPCA awarded them $ 36,000 in various grants in 2010 and 2011 — with some being used to decrease the number of animals that are euthanized — but this will never be enough funding to eliminate it. With over 75 dogs arriving at the kennel in just ONE WEEK (per Friends of the City of Cleveland Kennel), it’s an unfortunate reality.
These dogs (maybe some cats, too) are not, as a rule, adopted from this kennel, but can be adopted through the APL, the Cuyahoga County Kennel, and various rescue groups. This is essentially a «reclaiming» facility, since all dogs here have been picked up as strays — not given up by owners. The Cleveland Kennel is NOT the APL or Cuyahoga County Kennel — it’s an entirely separate facility located within a mile or two of the APL, down in a valley on West 7^th. Some dogs are transferred to the APL and Cuyahoga County Kennel, while rescue groups help, too. But some remain here for a grim outcome. Maybe an exception can be made, and you can adopt one from here. A special thanks to their commendable staff and selfless volunteers. This is not a pretty place, but it’s filled with so many beautiful dogs.
Mine was one of them. She’s now just over 12 years old. Healthy, happy, and lovable. Couldn’t imagine life without her.

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After visiting this kennel, walking along the several lines of cages, and then adopting my gorgeous new puppy, I wrote a poem about the experience. I’ve included the last stanza here:
Before you pass by, linger please, for their sake.
Look beyond the soiled coat, age, or size.
Just open your hearts, and know that you’ll see
Devotion and love in their eyes.
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* * 2012 ART FUR ANIMALS Benefit and Auction * *
When: Friday, June 22, 2012 7−10pm Tickets $ 20 in advance, $ 25 day of event
Details on Event section of Unilocal.Are you an artist, and wish to contribute your artwork to this silent auction? Please see the site for Friends of the City of Cleveland Kennel.
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Helpful websites…
* google: city of cleveland division of animal control
choose: City of Cleveland: Division of City Kennel
choose: Adoptions and Lost Dog Reclaiming
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The saddest place in the world is the Cleveland Kennel. That has nothing to do with the wonderful volunteers and the helpful staff that are there… but the entire situation.
As soon as you walk into the kennel, it smells and your ears start ringing from the barking in the back of the office. There are rows of cold dark cages filled with surprisingly happy, hopeful dogs. They do have some runs in the back that the dogs can VERY sparingly utilize.
Their hours are terrible (11−3pm) which mean that it’s very difficult to get over there without taking a half day from full time jobs. In addition, after playing football for over two years, it took me that long to figure out that it wasn’t a closed old building. You know why? The Kennel is the worst funded government program in Cleveland. They have a battered old sign. Rarely dogs outside. Etc.
The cages are filled with dogs that did nothing wrong, but the Kennel is there because people didn’t care enough about them to see to it that they found new homes. You can’t blame the kennel for people’s irresponsibility, but none-​the less, it’s a dark and sad place.
Speaking of… They do offer a low-​cost spay and neuter program.