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Our New Shelter Is Officially Open For Business.
We want to take the time to thank everyone who has helped make this new day and new shelter possible.
We invite everyone to visit our new shelter facility at 3025 Park Ave. West in Ontario, OH. Additionally, we would be grateful for your help
& financial support of our work by clicking the donate button below.
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 Our two humane agents cover all 500 square miles of Richland County
and do not forget they have other jobs. The humane agent part has
to be squeezed in between all the other responsibilities they carry
at the shelter and at home.
It has been more than a year since our Humane Agents began taking calls and what a busy and interesting time it has been! They have taken over 600 calls and been involved in several court cases-all of which have resulted in convictions. Some of these penalties were not as harsh as we would have liked, but animal welfare is a long, sometimes disappointing and often thankless job. Our agents have worked on cruelty cases in conjunction with the Dog Warden’s office, the Ashland County Humane Society and the Wyandot County Humane Society. Calls are taken from police departments in all towns and villages including Mansfield, Shelby, and Ontario, the Richland Co. Sheriff’s Department, Crawford, Morrow and Ashland County Humane Societies and other county agencies such as the Health Department, Codes and Permits and Children’s Services. Agents are on call 24/7 in case a true emergency occurs.
Much training has been involved in several different areas to ready them for the task at hand. First and foremost, state humane agent training was completed at the SPCA in Cincinnati. They have also been certified in euthanasia by injection for small animals and horses. Both certifications were obtained at the Wyandot County Humane Society. Training in the use of tasers by retired training officer Rick Krausman was completed last summer and they continue to be trained in martial skills by him, although they will never be done training for a job this size. Calls have run the gamut from cats stuck on rooftops and inside walls to injured geese on frozen lakes.
Our agents have handled complaints about almost every conceivable animal including ducks, geese, chickens, goats, horses, cows, pigs, alpacas, dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, peacocks, parrots, raccoons, even a bear! Because of the large number and variety of animals brought into the shelter, HSRC has begun working with dog, horse and rabbit rescues. We also have several foster homes for farm animals just in case the need arises. In the case of wild animals, we work with Wildlife Haven and Richland County’s wildlife officer .
When our board of directors originally agreed to add Humane Agents it was unclear how overwhelming the job would be in a county this size, but our agents are dedicated, trekking out in rain, snow and heat (on HS time and often on their own time) to rescue whatever animal needs help, to educate people on the proper care of their animals and to prosecute those who refuse to do so in accordance with the law. As is the case so many times, agents can only enforce what is prescribed by law. And as many people here and around the country do only what is necessary by law, i.e. food, water, shelter and minimal veterinary care, agents can not automatically seize the animal. It is for the most part a thankless job for them as they can never please all parties. Owners are angry if you question their treatment of a pet and those who call in are angry if an animal they feel is being neglected or abused is not instantly seized. When they are out and about, agents are looking for a variety of things owners must provide to their animal, including wholesome food (if present) and clean water available at all times. We do not recommend that most animals, especially dogs, be kept outside. However, as there is no law against it, agents look for a sturdy, clean, dry shelter with bedding of straw or cedar chips inside, small enough for the animal to keep itself warm and large enough for it to be comfortable. This should be in a space free from garbage and feces. Ample room to move without getting tangled, healthy body weight and coat and no apparent untreated injuries should be seen.
Education and information is a huge part of their job. So many people know so little about how to properly care for their pets and the consequences if they don’t. Agents routinely advise people of how to housetrain, why they should keep their dogs inside, the importance of spaying and neutering, parasite treatments and heartworm prevention. They talk to owners about scheduling regular veterinary visits, re-homing their animal if need be and training. Their goal is to inform as many people as possible of how to care for their pets and encourage them to make him or her a family member. Sometimes people listen. Sometimes they don’t; the downside of the job.
To date, the Humane Society has received only $250 in fine monies from those convicted by the courts. Although the HS has had extra costs involved in maintaining this service, our board members agree that it is needed by our community as evidenced by the amount and severity of the calls coming in to the shelter. You need only watch Animal Precinct or any of the other “animal cop” shows on Animal Planet to see what our agents see everyday. Most people think things like that do not occur here, but rest assured, they do. The only thing that does give them satisfaction is being successful in changing someone’s attitude and seeing them accept their pet as a part of the family; taking care of it to the best of their ability.
Many of our rescued animals still visit or their new families send updates. This helps the bad days make sense. Seeing a dog or cat or horse that was in such utter distress in a totally different world now, full of life. In those cases, we cry, agents and shelter staff alike, with joy, knowing that we had a hand, however small, in that happiness. |
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