Yelps for help from Valley's abandoned

By JEANNE STARMACK

starmack@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Animal Charities

Gallery

The animals at the Animal Charity of Ohio shelter at 4140 Market St. are so much better off than they were.

Still, they could be so much better off.

Taken in from situations of abuse and neglect, the 38 dogs and 16 cats there now come from the streets, drug houses and hoarders.

But the shelter struggles to provide them with basic necessities. The wish list is long — especially for the dogs, said Animal Charities Director Shalyse Bolase.

In the attached garage behind Animal Charities’ building, the dogs live in kennels and crates along the walls and in the center of the room.

It’s makeshift — but it’s clean, and they’re cared for. They get medical attention and walked at least twice a day.

They’re big dogs — the average size the shelter gets is 50 to 70 pounds, Bolase said at her office.

So they eat. A lot.

“Dog food — dry dog food — is something we’re constantly needing,” Bolase said.

Large crates are appreciated, as well as sturdy leashes and harnesses.

Busy bones, rawhide chews and toys, Bolase continued — cleaning products, paper towels, newspapers, blankets, sheets, towels, even hay,”

“What we really need,” interjected Stefanie Boggs, the adoption coordinator, “is a new building and a new van.”

While other shelters have large new buildings, Animal Charity has been struggling to make do with the garage.

The agency does not have a building fund established, Bolase said. But money a donor wants earmarked toward a building can be kept separate in the donation account, she said.

The same goes for the van — and they have received a large donation toward one already, she said.

“So we’re getting there,” she said.

Animal Charity is also a veterinary clinic and Mahoning County’s Humane Society, averaging between 100 and 300 calls a month for animals who need help.

In November, the shelter took in about 30 animals, Bolase said.

Besides the dogs and cats housed there, the agency is responsible for fosters. Four cats and 21 dogs are in foster care now, and Animal Charity pays for medical care for those animals though the foster homes pick up the cost of the food.

For more ideas on what to donate, go to the agency’s website, www.animalcharityofohio.org, its facebook page, or smile.amazon.com where you can choose a local organization to support. Shelter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.