At Columbus Humane, we are celebrating our 140th anniversary in a BIG way! Scheduled to open later this Spring, the Essential Care Center is the first of its kind. Located on the Southside, right off High Street, this facility will join three program areas under one roof, focused on support services for owned pets. These program areas include:
Pet Food Distribution – we finally have a warehouse!
For many who’ve helped us the last 3 years by volunteering or donating in-kind pet food and supplies, a warehouse to run this program is a difference maker. Rather than hand unpacking pallets in our parking lot, pallets will be loaded onto a warehouse racking system by forklift. A dedicated drive-through lane will allow pet food clients to pick up food and supplies any time during our open hours. Now, we can move 25,000 pounds of food and supplies a week! This program consistently needs in-kind donations.
Low-Cost Veterinary Clinic – more options at a lower cost!
Today, you can find free or reduced cost wellness care for vaccinations, microchipping, and spay/neuter. Our community does not have resources for free or reduced cost sick and injured care. Our veterinary clinic will offer significantly subsidized fees for non-emergent services. If a community pet who otherwise would not receive care is struggling with a skin infection or needs dental treatment, we can help! Open hours will be Monday through Friday, and our website will list fees for service. We anticipate being able to treat 12,000 pets on an annual basis through this clinic.
The Rachael Ray Foundation Pathways to Careers in Animal Health Program
In the last 3 years, 23 million families added pets to their households – 1 in 5 families! This trend occurred amidst staffing shortages across all positions in animal health. Veterinary practices are stressed, the cost of care has soared and wait times – for wellness, sick, injured and emergency visits – are extensive. This program aims to bolster the work force at the Veterinary Assistant level through 7 weeks of training. Our community partnerships with Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio and Jewish Family Services have made this possible. We hosted our first cohort of students at Columbus Humane in the fall and plan to enroll 60 students annually, to help fill the nearly 200 open positions in animal health in Franklin County alone.
We care about the health of all members of a pet family! One Health programming will allow a team of Ohio State University students from social work, veterinary medicine, and nursing to perform health screenings for people during their visit to the Essential Care Center. Two full-time social workers will be on staff to assist our community of pet families too.
Columbus Humane is embarking on these services because we believe all pets should have the opportunity to remain with their loving families. If we can help eliminate barriers or reduce challenges families may face which could lead to separation, it is our duty to help. More information about the Columbus Humane Essential Care Center is available at https://www.columbushumane.org/essential. Thank you to all the donors who made this facility possible.
