DeKalb County Animal Control Warden Janet Ott is the first step in the process to get stray dogs off the street and back on the road home.

Ott, who started six months ago at the DeKalb County Animal Shelter, said she does not follow a set schedule at work.

“First thing in the morning, we catch up on any messages left overnight and any bite reports that have come in,” Ott said. “If calls come in about stray dogs, we go out and try to locate them.”

The wardens are unable to assist the public with stray cats.

Ott said dogs are taken to Malta Veterinary Hospital, 3923 Route 38. If the dog has a microchip on its collar, the hospital can scan it to find the owner’s information, Ott said.

If there is no way to find an owner, the dog is put in a kennel at the hospital for seven days.

While the dogs are at the hospital, they are checked for rabies. Dogs older than 4 months are required to receive a rabies vaccination shot and be registered with animal control. Once the dog has been vaccinated, it receives a rabies tag.

If the animal is not claimed within the week, it is turned over for adoption to either the DeKalb County Animal Welfare Shelter, 16173 Base Line Road, Genoa, or TAILS Humane Society, 11634 Route 38.

“Last year, nine out of 10 dogs impounded by the wardens either were returned to their owners or released to the DeKalb County Animal Shelter,” said Karen Grush, administrator of the DeKalb County Health Department.

The animal control department also investigates any animal bites that occur in the county. If a person is bitten by a dog, stray or owned, it must be reported to animal control.

Any animal that bites a person must be taken to the veterinarian within 24 hours of the bite, Ott said. Stray dogs or those that have not been vaccinated must spend 10 days at the veterinarian’s office.

DeKalb County Animal Control can be reached at 748-2427.