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Staff report
BOARDMAN -- A crisis in capacity and funding has forced Animal Charity of Ohio to suspend all humane investigations and stop intakes of animals in Mahoning County. Officials said the suspensions should be temporary.
"We know how important this work is to the animals and to our community," said Rachel Hammond, secretary of the organization's board of directors. "Being forced to suspend humane investigations is heartbreaking, particularly because there are animals in our community who need this service. We want to resume this work as soon as possible, but we cannot do it without the support of the community we serve."
ACO is the only humane agency in the county authorized under the Ohio Revised Code.
The suspension therefore creates a significant gap in the community's ability to respond to animals suffering from cruelty and neglect, Hammond said in a news release this week.
She added the decision was not made lightly, explaining that Animal Charity does not have the resources necessary to accept new humane cases while providing for its already crowded facility.
ACO's roster in late June included 66 dogs, 226 cats, one tortoise and one turtle. The total cost for caring for all animals in the facility through May of this year was more than $156,000.
The Vindicator reported earlier this summer the average length of stay for a pet is 94 days, and the average daily cost to ACO for basic care is $23.14. So the average cost for keeping control animals is just over $2,175 if they have no medical or other problems.
In the absence of ACO services, the public is urged to report cases of animal abuse to their local law enforcement agencies or the county sheriff's office. Those who wish to report stray dogs are urged to contact the Mahoning County Dog Warden's office at 330-740-2205.
Animal Charity is asking the community for financial support. Donations will help the organization continue caring for the animals currently in its shelter and rebuild the capacity necessary to resume humane investigations and intakes.
ACO officials said their agency is not asking for money from public and private sources for extras, but only to be able to maintain the basic services it has routinely provided. It does not receive government funding or funding from any national organization to support its humane investigation work.
To support Animal Charity in its goal to restore investigations of abuse of pets and to resume animal intakes, donations can be made by clicking the donate tab on the homepage of its website, www.animalcharityofohio.org.