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New home offers room to grow
By Denise Dick
By DENISE DICK
BOARDMAN
Bigger and more examination rooms, a larger dog area and an expanded surgical facility help Animal Charity better serve animals and their owners, organization officials say.
Late last month, Animal Charity left the South Avenue quarters it had called home for about 30 years and moved into a building at 4140 Market St.
“Before, we had the dogs in the small basement of what used to be a house and part of the garage,” said Nikole Baringer, chief executive officer. “They were all in cages. We didn’t have room for pens.”
The new facility, formerly an insurance office, boasts a three-car heated garage area that allows space for cages for smaller dogs as well as pens for the larger lodgers. Cats, along with a few rabbits, are housed in a separate room.
Outside the animal areas, a small table offers photographs and information about adoptable dogs.
“We can talk to them [prospective adopters] to see what they’re looking for,” Baringer said.
Baringer said the plan is to auction the old building.
On Saturday, the agency will have an adopt-a-pet event from noon to 4 p.m. at Pet Supplies Plus in the Boardman Plaza, U.S. Route 224, and from 4 to 6 p.m. at Family Video, Market Street.
There also will be a pet wellness clinic from 2 to 4 p.m. at Pet Supplies Plus.
Dogs and cats will be on hand, looking for new homes.
The lower level of the new building includes an area for surgeries and a laboratory.
“We have two full-time veterinarians on staff now,” Baringer said.
One of them is Mike Wilson, who said he started with the agency about the time of the move. On a morning this week, he was performing surgery on a large dog brought in by its owner to be neutered.
There are more examination rooms, too. The agency offers veterinary services at affordable costs, the CEO said.
“We want to be the lowest cost that’s available but with the same quality,” she said.
If someone brings in a quote from another vet office for service, Animal Charity will beat that price, provided it’s a procedure that can be performed there.
“With this economy, we want people to be able to afford to take care of their animals.” Baringer said.
Besides adoptions and veterinary services, Animal Charity is also the only Mahoning County agency that offers humane services. Agents investigate complaints of animal cruelty and can file charges against offenders.
“If you see an animal being abused, abandoned or neglected, you need to call us,” Baringer said.
Educational programs also are available to groups and organizations that request them. The agency is launching a program aimed at stopping pitbull fighting.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for individuals who provide information that leads to the conviction or someone who fights the animals.