KCHA is committed to improving the welfare of animals in Kanawha County. Part of that includes equipping our community with the proper resources to make the best decisions for personal pets and strays. In this section of our website, you'll find numerous tips and links that address a variety of situations. If you still have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. We're here to help.

Cruelty and Neglect

Report Animal Cruelty

Animals can't speak for themselves. They rely on humans like you who care about their well-being. If you know an animal that has been abandoned, neglected or mistreated, please let us know so we can investigate or direct you to the proper resource. Don't wait! A day can be an eternity for an animal in distress.

To report cruelty please call us at (304) 342-1576 ext. 118 to reach a confidential voice-mail. We need the street address and zip code where the animal is located. Leaving a return phone number allows our Dispatcher to contact you for further information.

We take all reports of animal cruelty very seriously. All calls are completely confidential. KCHA is responsible for animal control/neglect complaints in all unincorporated parts of the county and the towns of Glasgow and East Bank. If you would like to report a concern within the city limits of Charleston, South Charleston, Dunbar, Nitro, or St. Albans call 304-343-8111

How to report :

  • Leave a voicemail, 24 hours a day: (304) 342-1576, ext. 118
  • For after-hours emergencies, call Metro at (304) 348-8111

Please note: We do not pick up healthy community cats or kittens.

Animal Cruelty/Neglect Complaint Form

How to recognize animal cruelty :

  • Extremely thin, starving animals.
  • Wounds on the body.
  • Patches of missing hair.
  • Limping.
  • Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food, water or shelter, often chained or locked up in a yard.
  • Animals that have been abandoned by their owner.
  • An owner striking, or otherwise physically abusing an animal.
  • Tick or flea infestations.
  • Flystrike -- open wounds on ears and/or nose caused by biting flies.
  • Animals with an injury or illness who have not received medical care.
  • Embedded collars/chains around the neck.
  • Animals whose hair is severely matted.
  • Intentionally fighting animals.

Feral Cats

KCHA is a proud partner of Alley Cat Allies, and was named one of ACA’s Future Five: Shelter Partners to Save Cats’ Lives. As such, KCHA enacted a Feral Cat Protection Policy, meaning we serve healthy feral cats through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). KCHA does not impound feral or “free-roaming” cats for euthanasia or rehoming. If you need assistance with affordable spay and neuter services for feral or free-roaming cats, please call our public spay/neuter clinic Fix Charleston at (304) 342-5660.

In TNR, cats are humanely trapped, spay/neutered, vaccinated against Rabies, ear-tipped for easy identification, and returned to their colony to live out their lives. TNR:

  • Stabilizes the cat population
  • Reduces nuisance, mating-related behaviors such as spraying, yowling, and fighting
  • Prevents unwanted kittens

For more information on TNR, visit alleycat.org.