Stark County Dog Tag Lookup and Lost and Found Dogs
How to trace a found dog’s owner from its Stark County tag, what to do if your dog is lost, and how the Auditor and the Dog Warden split the work.
There’s no public online search of Stark County dog license records by owner or address. The tag is the lookup key. If you find a dog wearing a Stark County DocuPet tag, enter the code on the back of the tag in DocuPet’s “Found a pet with a DocuPet tag?” search, or call DocuPet’s 24/7 HomeSafe line at (877) 239-6072. You can also call the Auditor’s Dog License Department at (330) 451-7354. If your own dog is lost, contact and visit the Stark County Dog Warden at 1801 Mahoning Rd. NE, Canton, (330) 451-2343.
| For | Contact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Found a dog with a DocuPet tag | DocuPet HomeSafe, (877) 239-6072 | 24/7; or search the tag code online |
| Tag or license questions | Auditor’s Dog License Department, (330) 451-7354 | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Lost dog, strays, impounded dogs | Stark County Sheriff’s Office Dog Warden, (330) 451-2343 | 1801 Mahoning Rd. NE, Canton, OH 44705. Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Sundays and holidays. |
Sources: Stark County Auditor, dog licenses, Dog Warden contact page and DocuPet Help Desk, checked Sep 27, 2026.
Look up a DocuPet tag
Enter the code from the back of the tag. If the owner allows it, you’ll see how to reach them; otherwise DocuPet contacts the owner for you. Opens in a new tab.
If you found a dog
- Check the dog’s tags, calmly and safely. A DocuPet tag, the kind Stark County’s online licenses come with, has an ID code on the back. Don’t risk a bite; if the dog is nervous, call the Dog Warden instead.
- Search the tag code. On DocuPet’s website, find “Found a pet with a DocuPet tag?”, enter the code and select Search. If the owner has chosen to share contact details, you’ll see them. If not, fill in the report and select “Submit and Send to Pet Owner”, and DocuPet tries to reach the owner and follows up with you.
- Or call. DocuPet’s HomeSafe line, (877) 239-6072, answers 24/7. During office hours the Auditor’s Dog License Department, (330) 451-7354, can also help with a tag number.
- No tag, or no answer? Call the Dog Warden at (330) 451-2343. A vet or shelter can also scan the dog for a microchip.
If your dog is lost
The Sheriff’s Office gives this advice:
- Visit the shelters in person. Only you can recognize your dog. Check the Dog Warden at 1801 Mahoning Rd. NE, Canton, and the humane society on Peach Street in Nimishillen Township. Go back every day or every other day.
- Search and talk to neighbors. Go door to door, and ask children who play in the area. Search in the evening when it’s quieter, and drive slowly; your dog may know the sound of your car.
- Put up posters within about 20 blocks of where your dog went missing, and at shelters and community boards.
- Be careful with callers. Keep one identifying detail, such as a scar, to yourself, so you can check that a caller really has your dog before paying any reward.
If your dog is licensed, keep the phone number on its license record current, in your DocuPet account or by calling the Dog License Department, so a finder or the Dog Warden can reach you.
How long the Dog Warden holds a stray
Ohio law gives licensed dogs much more time. Under Ohio Revised Code 955.12:
| Dog | Held for |
|---|---|
| Wearing a valid license tag | The warden notifies the owner. The dog can be redeemed within 14 days of that notice. |
| Unlicensed | 3 days. After that the dog may be sold (adopted out) or destroyed. |
The Sheriff’s Office also warns that strays are held for 3 days before they may be adopted or destroyed, so don’t wait if your dog has no tag. A current license is the simplest way to buy time. Our dog license guide has fees and the January 31 deadline.
Check your own dog’s license
- Online: sign in to your DocuPet account to see your dog’s license, renew it, or update your details.
- By phone: call the Auditor’s Dog License Department at (330) 451-7354 or DocuPet at (877) 239-6072.
- Lost tag: a replacement tag costs $5. See the dog license guide.
The Auditor and the Dog Warden: who does what
| Office | Handles |
|---|---|
| County Auditor, Dog License Department | Selling licenses and tags, replacement tags, license records |
| DocuPet, the county’s licensing partner | Online licenses and renewals, tag lookups, the 24/7 HomeSafe line |
| Sheriff’s Office, Dog Warden Division | Picking up strays, holding impounded dogs, reuniting dogs with owners, adopting out unclaimed dogs, dog bite reports |
Some county pages list the Sheriff’s Office main number, (330) 430-3800, at 4500 Atlantic Blvd. NE. For a lost or found dog, the Dog Warden’s own line is (330) 451-2343.
Common mistakes
- Waiting to visit the shelter. An unlicensed dog can be adopted out after 3 days.
- Relying on a phone call alone. Visit in person; descriptions over the phone can miss a match.
- Letting a license lapse. A current tag means a 14-day hold and a fast way back to you.
- Outdated contact details. A tag only helps if the phone number on the record works.
Frequently asked questions
Can I look up a Stark County dog license online?
Not by owner name or address. You can look up a DocuPet tag by the code on its back through DocuPet's “Found a pet with a DocuPet tag?” search. Owners can see their own licenses in their DocuPet account.
How do I find the owner of a dog with a Stark County tag?
Search the tag code on DocuPet's website, or call DocuPet's 24/7 HomeSafe line at (877) 239-6072. During office hours, the Auditor's Dog License Department at (330) 451-7354 can also help.
Where is the Stark County Dog Warden?
1801 Mahoning Rd. NE, Canton, OH 44705. Phone (330) 451-2343. Open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sundays and holidays.
How long does the Dog Warden keep a stray dog?
Under Ohio law, an unlicensed dog can be adopted out or destroyed after 3 days. A dog wearing a valid license tag can be redeemed within 14 days after the warden notifies the owner.
What should I do if my dog is lost in Stark County?
Visit the Dog Warden and the humane society in person and go back often, search and ask neighbors, and put up posters within about 20 blocks. Keep one identifying detail to yourself to check callers.
Does the Auditor's office pick up stray dogs?
No. The Auditor sells dog licenses. The Sheriff's Office Dog Warden Division picks up strays and holds impounded dogs.
Next steps
- License or renewFees and the January 31 deadline
- Auditor’s officeHours and department phones
- All guidesStark Auditor Guide home
Sources
- Stark County Auditor, dog licenses (found dog contacts)
- Stark County Sheriff’s Office Dog Warden, contact and services (address, phone, hours, services)
- Sheriff’s Office, What to do when you lose a pet
- DocuPet Help Desk, What do I do when I find a pet?
- Ohio Revised Code 955.12 (holding periods)
All sources checked Sep 27, 2026.
Stark Auditor Guide is an independent guide published by Abu Hurera LLC. It is not the Stark County Auditor’s office. Always confirm deadlines and amounts with the official office before you act.