(Franklin County, Ohio) – A Grove City couple has been sentenced to five years of probation and is no longer allowed to breed and/or broker any animals after a jury convicted both Douglas and Britny DeVaul on 17 out of 20 counts of animal cruelty. Each conviction is a misdemeanor of the second degree. The defendants are also required to pay $16,000 in fines to Columbus Humane. In addition, the following terms of Community Control were imposed…

It’s true that some dogs absolutely LOVE the snow, but it’s important that dogs have access to the warm indoors with their people whenever possible. While it may seem that dogs and cats are fully protected by their thick coats, pets are still susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia. Even long-haired or thick coated dogs should not be outside for long periods of time in freezing temperatures.

Earlier this month, Columbus Humane admitted 29 Australian Shepherd dogs from an overcrowded home in Reynoldsburg. One of the dogs in the population had respiratory infection symptoms that were likely related to the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). Columbus Humane veterinary staff is conducting additional testing to gather more information about the disease impacts on other dogs in the shelter.

Columbus Humane executed a search warrant at the home of a man on the Southeast side of Columbus and seized 48 roosters and hens, coupled with other paraphernalia related to cockfighting. Humane Agents received a complaint that approximately 40 roosters were being kept at a property on the Southeast side of Columbus and were being used for cockfighting.

On Sunday, December 6, 2020, Columbus Humane assisted Franklin County Dog Wardens and Reynoldsburg Police Department with a home overwhelmed with more than 40 Australian Shepherds living in unhealthy conditions. The dogs vary in medical concerns, many fearful and in need of additional training and a loving home.

To say 2020 has been a year like no other, feels like a bit of an understatement. Is it safe to say, no one’s year has gone to plan? But every challenge invites an opportunity to learn and grow. We’ve learned how to work flexibly and remotely, stand six feet apart from one another and wear a mask that covers our noses. But more importantly, we’ve learned how to remain close when sharing physical space is no longer an option, serve a community facing a new set of challenges and rework our programming to accommodate a new way of life.

As Defend Your Friend weekend comes to an end, the 5Ks have been completed at the park, around your neighborhood or on trips from the couch to the fridge; no step was taken without greater purpose. Together, we all have the ability to impact the lives of those who need our help most because together, we make Columbus Humane. As a result of Defend Your Friend 5K 2020, 279 people participated accompanied by 140 dogs resulting in $50,889 raised for our Cruelty Investigations Department with an additional $20K raised to support the Susan Wright Yoder Memorial Fund, which helps us provide care for dogs admitted through animal cruelty investigations. Your contribution to Defend Your Friend will help do things like:

Tuesday, October 20, 2020 – A Grove City couple has been convicted of 17 counts of animal cruelty after Columbus Humane agents seized 247 animals from two properties the couple owned citing unsanitary, dangerous conditions in 2019.

(Thursday, October 15, 2020) – Columbus Humane is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for two separate, violent acts of animal cruelty.

An open letter to our neighbors:

“I promise to be kind to all creatures within my reach and to protect them as far as I can from cruelty and ill-usage.”

This Columbus Humane pledge dates back to 1884, just a year after our organization’s founding. Times are different. Societal norms have changed in many ways since the late 1800’s. Our language is different. (I can’t recall ever using “ill-usage” in a sentence.) Our mission is even a bit different, as our founders set out primarily to protect women, children and carriage horses.