Adams County dog warden page gives residents licensing, animal control info

A loose dog on a county road, a new puppy that needs a tag, or a kennel complaint in West Union all lead to the same place in Adams County. The county’s Dog and Kennel Department lists Donnie Swayne as dog warden and gives residents a direct number, 937-544-2431, for animal control and licensing questions. Its page is one of the county’s most practical public-service tools because it tells people where to turn when a dog problem needs attention fast.

When the dog warden matters

The department is built for the situations Adams County sees most often: stray dogs, animals at large, licensing questions and complaints that need a county response. That matters in a county where residents are spread across small towns, farms, rural roads and scattered neighborhoods, including West Union, Peebles, Manchester and Seaman.

In places like that, a loose dog is not just an inconvenience. It can become a neighbor dispute, a safety concern or a paperwork issue if the animal is not licensed. The county page functions as the front door for those problems, especially where a village or township office may not have the staffing to handle animal control on its own.

How to reach the office

The Dog and Kennel Department lists its office at 11260 SR 41 in West Union, OH 45693, with a fax number of 937-544-6201. It also lists an email contact for the office, giving residents a second way to reach the department when a phone call is not practical. For immediate questions, the main number is still the quickest starting point.

The listed office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Sunday closed, with other hours available by appointment. That schedule matters in a county with 28,105 residents spread across 584 square miles, because not every animal-control issue lands neatly inside weekday business hours. A centralized county office gives residents a single place to call when the issue is urgent or simply does not fit a city hall schedule.

What licensing rules matter most

Ohio dog-licensing guidance tied to Adams County says all dogs more than three months of age must be licensed. The standard licensing period runs from December 1 through January 31, and applications filed after January 31 are subject to a late penalty. For households with a growing puppy, a new rescue or a dog that has just moved into the county, that deadline is the one that matters most.

That timing also explains why the dog warden page is more than an animal-control directory. It is part of routine county compliance and fee collection, and it helps owners avoid a late penalty simply by knowing when the licensing window opens and closes. If a dog is old enough to be licensed, the county expects that paperwork to be handled on schedule.

What recent county updates show

County meeting updates have shown that the dog warden’s work reaches well beyond a phone number and a tag reminder. In one commission meeting, Donnie Swayne said the kennel held 31 dogs and that regular adoption and tag fees had been reinstated. Commissioners also reviewed multiple dog complaints, along with a public-records complaint that was fulfilled on Jan. 5, 2026 after holiday closures.

Another county update showed the Adams County Dog & Kennel still moving through completion. Swayne told commissioners the new facility was paved and half of the indoor kennels had been installed, while final state inspection was still pending. The board also approved a $2,329.97 Lowe’s estimate for appliances tied to the new kennel, a reminder that the county is still building out the facility it uses to house animals and manage intake.

Those details help explain why the department remains a live issue for residents, not just a name on a county website. When the kennel is holding animals, when fees change, or when a new building is still finishing inspection, the pace of service can affect adoptions, intake and complaint handling across the county.

Why the department has drawn attention before

The office has also faced public scrutiny. In January 2024, social-media backlash followed photos and posts showing dogs outdoors in freezing temperatures, prompting criticism and complaints to county officials. That episode pushed shelter conditions into public view and made the department part of a broader conversation about how the county treats animals in its care.

The department’s public image has been evolving for years. In a 2017 People’s Defender article, then-Deputy Dog Warden Donnie Swayne said the pound was trying to move away from an older reputation tied to euthanizing practices. That history still shapes how residents view the office today, especially when kennel conditions or shelter capacity become part of county discussion.

For Adams County residents, the practical takeaway is straightforward: if a dog is loose, a license is due or a kennel issue needs a county response, the Dog and Kennel Department is the office to contact first. The county keeps the warden’s number, hours and location in one place for a reason, and that central contact point remains the fastest route to help.