Better from our City

Actions speak louder than words. From 2019–2021, Columbus Animal Care and Control had $3,671,745 budgeted but only spent $3,217,861.92 — leaving $453,884 unspent. Over the same three years the city spent about $74,069.29 on veterinary services for 12,917 impounded animals — less than $5.73 per animal — while adoption and return-to-owner rates dropped significantly. Rescues…

Earlier this month I realized I had not written a blog since 2023. The last one was titled “How Do We Accept This?” There really wasn’t more to say as the situation continued to deteriorate. Now we are on the eve of a new day for Columbus animal care and services. We entered the new…

We are one month into the transition for Paws Humane to take over responsibilities of Columbus animal services and there have been frustrations. There are lots of pieces to this transition. Maybe understanding what is happening will help. The beginning of transition still has the city staff, hours, and policies in place. Over 70 animals…

Today we said goodbye to a dog we knew only a short time. We wanted to bring him relief and allow him to enjoy the few days we could help. He could enjoy time inside a loving home, take walks in the woods with young boys, and feel a gentle normal life. On May 9,…

When Animal SOS received the Request for Proposals (RFP) from the City in April, it was easy to get excited about the possibility of Columbus Animal Care and Control (CACC) being privatized. It included requirements asking a vendor to supply services way beyond what is currently being provided — services our community expects and deserves….

This post challenges the city’s stalled privatization discussions and the unrealistic expectations placed on nonprofits to fund the gap between city budgets and required services. It argues that animal control is severely understaffed and underfunded, with direct animal-care spending averaging under $13 per impounded animal. It calls on city leadership to either fund a quality…