How Do We Accept This?

Some of you may have noticed, Animal SOS is not as active at Columbus Animal Care and Control as we have been in the past.  I’ve seen emails where it was stated  “One can only assume it’s due to their own capacity issues.”  While Animal SOS is not able to transport as many dogs and cats as previous years, Animal Control received a lengthy email covering several issues in August, ending by stating “Having a more complete understanding of the city’s position on animal care in our city, we feel our energy will best be served concentrating on other areas of our work.”  An email that never received a response.

For over a year, the rescues were able to communicate more efficiently through a group message system.  That stopped with no discussion in September. Instead the directors received text for four days - September 25, 26 (where we asked to have intake directors included to cut out the middle man, which did not happen), September 30, and October 5th. These days we get our information from what they post on Facebook just like the general public.

Except they don’t post everything.  Many injured dogs needing urgent care sit in their kennel.  Since we were given a written policy the beginning of August, not allowing dogs to receive medical care in foster homes while on stray hold, our hands have been tied. Our vets don’t want us to use them as boarding facilities because they know dogs respond to treatment better in a home environment. We have no confidence consistent care would be given if we return them to animal control after a vet visit. That would be mostly dependent on the volunteers. Even though we were told in August the policy would be modified, it hasn’t.

As of this morning, we are aware of over a dozen dogs impounded and needing medical attention along with a mom with 10 newborn puppies. What are we supposed to do?  Accept the city has nothing more than Carprofen to give a dog for pain?  Accept the city has no desire to provide care?  Yet how do you accept letting dogs sit without attention for days?

So all the local rescues, including Animal SOS are working more with the public.  There’s still work we can do in our community without subjecting ourselves to the city’s chaos.  Yet the lost potential of collaborating with the city beyond frustrates us. Instead even more barriers are put in our way. I don’t know why we ever thought the government would fix our problems.

After trying many different approaches, we don’t have the answer to “fix” animal control.  We recognize it is outside of our control. The problems start in the community and that is where the answer can be found.

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