Humane agent finds ice-covered animal, but group needs funds to help

SALEM

During this time of low temperatures and sometimes dangerous wind chill, the part-time humane agent with Humane Society of Columbiana County has found outside dogs with “icicles on them,” said Jill Halligan, outreach coordinator.

But, HSCC has only been able to try to “educate the owner” about shelter and provide straw as warm bedding, she said. “Right now, we can’t take in animals,” Halligan said.

The HSCC shelter at 1825 S. Lincoln Ave. has 40 cats and 10 dogs in its care. Some animals are part of court cases; some have medical issues; some are in foster care; others are available for adoption.

No matter what the animal’s situation, the care costs money. The HSCC is in debt, though it’s slowly working its way out. “It’s mostly medical debt,” Halligan said of the cost of veterinary services.

“The need is greater than the size of the organization,” Halligan said. “We just need more public support.”

Though she and Jill Abdoo, a board member and volunteer, declined to give an amount of the debt, they acknowledged it was “substantial.” “We can’t stop caring for the animals we have,” Halligan said, adding some have continuing medical issues.

“Money is the issue,” Abdoo said.

HSCC is a no-kill, non-profit animal welfare organization that depends on donations; it receives no money from Columbiana government or a national organization. HSCC can’t predict the amount of donations it will receive or how much various treatments will cost, Halligan said. Donations have gone down slightly. The organization also sponsors fundraisers like The Plunge planned Saturday.

Halligan said some animals in HSCC care have behavorial issues caused by abuse and neglect. One dog has food aggression because she was starved. “Another place might have euthanized her, but we’re working with her and she has improved,” Halligan said.

The society continues to receive numerous calls about “freezing animals.” “The humane agent can provide straw and people can get straw at the shelter. We have a food giveaway once a month,” Halligan said. “We make a difference that way.”

People who keep animals outdoors are required to provide “adequate shelter, food and water,” she noted, but there’s no requirement that the shelter be warm. She said Ohio ranks 34th in the nation in animal protection laws. Halligan said the HSCC and other animal welfare organizations lobby for stronger cruelty laws but lawmakers seem to hesitate to formulate better animal welfare laws because it might hamper Ohio agriculture business.

Read more about the situation in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.