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YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County commissioners have thrown a bone to the county's humane agency, although they concede it's a meager helping.
Animal Charity of Ohio's operations are still suspended while the organization tries to find a source of funding. On Thursday, commissioners passed a resolution to meet the county's statutory obligation to support the salary of a humane agent, although the board only approved the state minimum of $155 per month.
"I don't know if it will help at all," said Commissioner Anthony Traficanti. "We gave them almost a half million dollars a few years ago from the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to help supplement their budget . . . but we have asked to see certain financials from Animal Charity, and we're waiting to see where their shortfall is and what they need."
ACO Board Secretary Rachel Hammond first expressed gratitude and optimism that commissioners seem to be willing to provide some support.
“The county is finally working with us to get the humane agency and investigations and our humane agent up and running. We are very excited that they’re willing to work with us,” she said.
Hammond said county officials are expected to visit ACO's Boardman shelter during the week of Nov. 16 to tour its operations and discuss potential funding options.
Hammond said the agency has provided mostly everything commissioners requested as of about two weeks ago.
She said the county requested six years of records, some of which may have been damaged when the organization’s previous building flooded. She said Animal Charity tried to reconstruct missing information by contacting people who might have retained relevant records.
Board President and Executive Director Jenny Falvey first expressed gratitude that commissioners approved a humane agent stipend: “Obviously, it’s costly to employ our humane agents, but they’re a vital part of the community. And so just knowing that they’re going to support the salary of one of them is going to be incredibly helpful to us.”
But that enthusiasm evaporated when she learned the amount of the county’s contribution.
“That’s the first that I have heard of the amount. So knowing that it’s that amount, no, unfortunately, that is very minimal.”
Falvey said humane agents make between $38,000 and $42,000 per year, or between $18.27 and $20.19 per hour, assuming a standard 40-hour work week. The commissioners approved stipend for the humane agent amounts to about 4.5% of the salary, or $0.89 per hour.
Hammond said in August that other Ohio counties pay anywhere from $15,000 to $35,000 per year to humane agents who work exclusively for that agency, and those who are supported by the county dog warden receive lesser support.
Hammond described humane agents as quasi-law enforcement personnel. She explained that while they have authority to seize animals and obtain search warrants, they are not armed.
She questioned how the county could justify such limited financial support for personnel who often encounter dangerous situations in which they must wait for armed law enforcement officers to arrive.
Falvey praised local law enforcement and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office for responding promptly, but said even a quick response can leave humane agents exposed to danger in the interim.
Animal Charity ceased its animal welfare operations in June and cut humane services in August. The agency now is only maintaining the daily operations necessary to provide care for the animals already in its shelter.
In June, Falvey gave a presentation to commissioners explaining what her agency does, its operating costs and why it incurs those costs. Falvey asked the commissioners for $350,000 in county funding — about 18% of the agency’s $1.9-million budget for 2026 — to stabilize Animal Charity’s operations and allow it to restore services. Falvey suggested the agency would contract with Mahoning County to provide the services, and continue supporting itself with additional fundraising and donations.
In June, she emphasized the major financial burden comes from animal care and animal-control costs, particularly veterinary care, surgeries, staffing, housing and general operating expenses. A month with an unusually large intake of animals needing medical treatment could burn through available cash very quickly, she said.
Animal-control cases alone cost more than $156,000 from Jan. 1 through June 1, Falvey said. involving 254 animals. Those expenses had been covered through donations, grants and fundraising rather than a government contract.
On Thursday, Traficanti said the county is still evaluating what it can spend on the agency.
"That's what the commissioners are at liberty to do right now, but that doesn't mean down the road there couldn't be room for more negotiations," he said.
Traficanti said he does not dismiss the value of Animal Charity's services.
"We all care about our animals, we all love animals, they do a wonderful job and we want to see them successful," he said. "We don't want to see them go under, absolutely not."