Nuisance Complaints

The Environmental Health Division accepts general nuisance complaints from the public. Complaints 

MUST include the following:

• The exact location of the problem
•  The property owner’s name, if known
•  A full description of the complaint
• Complainant’s name, address, and telephone number
•  Complainant’s signature

 The Environmental Health Division responds to complaints of environmental

 conditions that may pose a threat to public health. The department will evaluate each

 situation and determine the exact threat and attempt to educate the persons

 concerned while getting them to remove or abate the nuisance condition.

If failure to comply to recommendations of the department are not followed, the

Board of Health will conduct administrative hearings ordering actions to be taken.  

Failure to comply with the Board of Health will result in the case being referred to the

Ashtabula County Prosecutor’s Office for legal action as described in Ohio

Administrative Code 3707.01.

Please send your complaint to:

Ashtabula County Health Department

12 West Jefferson Street

Jefferson, Ohio 44047

Contact Information

Please contact the Ashtabula County Health Department by phone at (440) 576-6010

option 3, or by email at achd@ashtabulacountyhealth.com. 

What is Rabies and how do people get it?

Rabies is a virus that attacks the brain and nervous system. It can infect all mammals  and is seen mostly in bats, skunks, raccoons and other wild animals.  It is  transmitted  to people in the saliva of a biting animal. It is also possible, but quite  rare, that people may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as  saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth or wound.  If rabies is contracted by a human, it is invariably fatal.  Prompt treatment following the bite of a rabid animal is  critical in preventing rabies.

How can I tell if an animal has rabies?  

You can’t tell if an animal has rabies. When an animal is sick with rabies, it may  behave strangely. But, a rabid animal may also appear healthy or even tame. The only  way to tell if an animal has rabies is by testing it in a laboratory, or for some pets and  livestock, by a quarantine to see if rabies develops.  

How can my health department help?

The Ashtabula County Health Department will place the biting dog, cat or ferret  under a quarantine, usually at the owner’s home.  If the animal remains healthy  during quarantine, the person bitten was not exposed to the rabies virus.  Wild  animals and stray animals are usually tested.  Unfortunately, this means the animal  must be sacrificed because the test is done on the brain tissue.  The Ashtabula County  Health Department can advise you and your veterinarian on how to have this done.  We will also know the risk of animal rabies in your community.  This may be  important to your doctor if the animal is not available for testing or quarantine.

Reporting an Animal Bite

State and local rules and regulations require all animal bites, scratches and exposure  incidents to be reported to the Board of Health within 24 hours, as stated in Ohio Administrative Code 3701-3-28. The Ashtabula County Health Department is open from 8:00 am to 4:30pm, Monday thru Friday at (440) 576-6010 option 3. 

**Also to report an incident, you can print off our Animal Bite Form, complete it in its  entirety, and fax it to the Ashtabula County Health Department at (440) 576-0085 or  (440) 576-5527. 

To report an incident, please have this information ready: 

How and where the bite occurred. It needs reported to the appropriate health district, depending on the location where the bite occurred: 

Ashtabula City District

Contact Ashtabula City Health Dept.

4717 Main Ave.

Ashtabula OH, 44004

(440) 992-7123.

Conneaut City District 

Contact Conneaut City Health Dept.

327 Mill Street,

Conneaut OH, 44030 

(440) 593- 3087. 

All others 

Ashtabula County Health Department 

12 West Jefferson St.  

Jefferson OH, 44047  

(440) 576-6010 option 3, 

Hours of 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays.  

Information needed

Date of the Bite

Date of the Report

Name of Person Bitten 

Age of Person Bitten  

Phone Number of Person Bitten 

Address of Person Bitten  

Part of Body affected  

If Minor, Parents Name, Address & Phone number.  

Treatment Received  

Physicians Name  

For Dog, Cat, or other bites by pets the following information should be provided:  

Ownerʼs Name  

Ownerʼs Phone Number 

Owners Address  

Description of the animal  

Animalʼs Name  

Date Rabies Shot was Given  

Veterinarianʼs Name  

Veterinarianʼs Phone Number  

Reported by 

What can I do to protect my family & pets from Rabies? 

AVOID contact with wildlife and animals you do not know. Teach children that  although a baby skunk or raccoon may look cute and friendly, it can be very  dangerous.  

VACCINATE your dogs, cats and ferrets for rabies by a veterinarian regularly and  keep them current.

CALL your doctor if bitten.  

Call your veterinarian if your pet fought with a wild animal.  

Where can I get more information on rabies?  

Ohio Department of Health or  Rabies Information Line at 1-888-RABIES-1 (1-888-722-4371)  

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)  

Bats and Rabies, A Public Health Guide  

Rabies Just 4 Kids  

How to Safely Catch a Bat for Rabies Testing