Our CEO, Rachel D.K. Finney, CAWA, recently celebrated 15 years leading Columbus Humane. She’s forever changed the landscape of Columbus for both people and animals and our community is taking notice. Just last week she was recognized as a Woman of Influence in Columbus Business First’s inaugural awards of female community leaders.

We’ve come a long way during Rachel’s 15 years of leadership. In her tenure, Columbus Humane has:

Reduced euthanasia by more than 70%
Grown our operating budget from $1.6 M to over $7 M
Completed 5 building projects
Expanded partnerships to offer animal care and housing on-site at CHOICES for Domestic Violence
Created a new workforce development program.

Now, Columbus Humane is getting ready to fully launch the Essential Care Center under Finney’s leadership!

This first-of-its-kind facility is the only one in the Country to combine heavily subsidized veterinary care, pet food assistance and veterinary workforce training under one roof. This new facility is expanding partnerships with The Ohio State University to offer one health solutions through nursing, veterinary medicine and social work. Both people and pets will receive essential healthcare at this groundbreaking facility. Columbus does not currently have low-cost sick and injured veterinary care options and a staggering 70,000 pets in Franklin County have never seen a veterinarian! This facility will change that.

“Walking through the Essential Care Center is like walking through my daydream come true.”
-Rachel D.K. Finney, CAWA

“All I’ve ever wanted to do is help people and animals—all the people and all the animals. Walking through the Essential Care Center is like walking through my daydream come true. The work we will do here will absolutely change thousands of lives for the better and I could not be more grateful to see it all come together,” says Finney of her newest innovation.

Through partnerships with Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio and Jewish Family Services, the Rachael Ray Foundation Pathways to Careers in Animal Health veterinary assistance training program is providing diverse, skilled workers to address critical shortages in veterinary medicine. There are more than 200 open positions in veterinary medicine in Franklin County alone, practices are struggling to staff vacancies, while client experience increased cost and wait-times. This program will provide 60 people per year to fill those positions and adjust the landscape of veterinary medicine in our community.

When Rachel isn't creating game-changing programs, she's spending time with her family or outside in nature. An Ohio resident of 22 years, Finney’s family includes her husband, two children, three dogs, three cats, and three fish. She operates under the philosophy that one should "never be afraid to do the right thing."

Columbus Humane and our community are so fortunate to have Rachel D.K. Finney, CAWA leading the way for animal welfare in Central Ohio. With the creation of the first-of-its-kind, Essential Care Center, the future for pet families and Columbus residents is trending skyward. Learn more about this incredible facility and get involved here.