Animal Charity of Ohio, located at 8459 Southern Blvd. in Boardman, the Humane Society serving Mahoning County, is temporarily suspending humane investigations and humane intakes due to a critical capacity and funding crisis.
      Protecting animals from cruelty and neglect is an essential part of Animal Charity’s nonprofit mission. It is the only organization in Mahoning County dedicated to conducting humane investigations and providing shelter and care for animals removed from situations involving cruelty or neglect. The suspension therefore creates a significant gap in the community’s ability to respond to animals suffering from cruelty and neglect.
      “This decision was not made lightly. Animal Charity does not have the resources necessary to accept new humane cases while providing appropriate care for the animals already in its custody,” the agency said., adding “Animal Charity hopes to restore these services as soon as practicable. Doing so will require additional funding and operational capacity.”
      Animal Charity is facing this crisis at a time when nonprofit organizations across the country are competing for support from a shrinking pool of individual donors. For Animal Charity, the consequences are particularly serious. Animal Charity does not receive government funding or funding from any national organization to support its humane investigation work. Its ability to investigate cruelty, accept animals from those cases, and provide them with shelter and care depends on private donations from the community.
      Animal Charity has reached the point where it must suspend this critical service until it can rebuild the financial and operational capacity to continue.
      “We know how important this work is to the animals and to our community,” said Rachel
      Hammond, secretary, 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.”
      Animal Charity is asking the community for urgent 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.
      To support Animal Charity and help restore these critical services, visit www.animalcharityofohio.org. Every contribution can help Animal Charity continue caring for animals today and move closer to restoring this essential service. While services are suspended, individuals with concerns regarding suspected animal cruelty or neglect should contact their local police department or the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office.