COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus Humane is preparing to report numbers for the 2023 abuse investigation.
The nonprofit organization works with law enforcement to keep communities and their pets safe, and sees as many as 1,500 animals returned each year for abuse investigations. .
Last year, Columbus Humane took in 966 animals through these studies.
“We receive a steady stream of complaints about animal abuse, neglect, torture, complaints and organized animal fighting, and we are on the ground every day of the year,” said Rachel Finney, CEO of Columbus Humane. We are responding to the situation.”
The organization annually reports the number of brutality investigations to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. These figures speak to the conditions the region faces, including abuse, neglect and hoarding.
“Not only do we investigate animal abuse, mistreatment, and neglect, but we also respond to cases where families with pets are experiencing domestic violence. Dangerous situations where people are unable to take their pets. Because we know it's going to happen,” Finney said. .
Columbus Humane said it responds to 5,000 to 6,000 animal cruelty complaints a year in Franklin County. This group accounts for more than a quarter of all animal cruelty charges in Ohio.
Many of the tips come from community and nonprofit stocks, and the trends tend to align with other issues that Central Ohio leaders often talk about, like affordable housing and domestic violence. .
In 2023, 74 animals were admitted to the Safe Haven for Pets program. This program provides free veterinary care, food, and shelter to pets of domestic violence survivors.
“There's a very high correlation between domestic violence, interpersonal violence, domestic violence, child abuse, and even elder abuse and animal abuse,” Finney said.
Columbus Humane is focused on animal safety, and Franklin County Animal Control is focused on people safety.
“While we protect people from dog-related injuries and incidents, our good friend over there at Columbus Humane protects animals from human-related incidents,” said Lindsay Allen, Franklin County Animal Care and Control Site Supervisor. “I'm protecting them from this,” he said.
Allen said animal control in the county operates 24/7 and is the largest animal control department in the Midwest.
“We will be patrolling throughout Franklin County looking for loose and stray dogs and trying to rehome them,” Allen said. “So we go in there and capture those dogs, try to control them and ultimately try to get them back to people.”
Animal Care and Control also assists the Columbus Police Department in some cases.
“They have someone pulled over for drunk driving, and that person may have an animal involved, so they call our department's animal control officer to come and remove the dog, and while they're at it, We make sure the dog has a safe place to stay. Our animal control officers will be hands-on responding to a variety of situations until the owner's situation is determined,” said Dwayne Young, deputy director of the Franklin County Dog Shelter. .
Although the two organizations are different, they support each other. In 2023, the Columbus Bureau of Humanitarian Abuse Investigation filed 88 cases and 248 charges.
“As a law enforcement organization, we have to be very careful not to criminalize poverty,” Finney said. “So when we respond to a complaint, we always suggest, 'Do you need help with feeding?' Do you need a baby gate or a crate to keep your pet inside? We offer affordable veterinary care. Do you need it?'' said Mr. Finney.
Columbus Humane said there were 35 unresolved cases at the end of 2023. Most of those cases are misdemeanors, but there are occasional felony-level cases.
The conviction rate in 2023 is 91%.
Columbus Humane's work is funded by donations and local governments. The Columbus City Council recently approved her $325,000 for the organization.
