NEWS

Humane society seeks new chief while battling overflow

Sara Nealeigh
Reporter

CHILLICOTHE – The Ross County Humane Society has come a long way in the past few years and is looking for someone to take it even further.

David Thomas, president of the Ross County Humane Society Board of Directors, said he remembers a time when the shelter did not have staff. Not long ago, the board members were the ones cleaning out cages and walking dogs.

Thomas heavily credits Janie Rhoads, who has served as the humane society’s director for years, for the many improvements they have seen, including a growing list of volunteers and social media followers.

“A strong foundation is what we asked of Janie, and we are very pleased that she succeeded,” Thomas said.

Last week, the humane society announced that Rhoads has resigned as director and that it is looking to fill the position by Oct. 1. Thomas said board members are confident it will be a smooth transition thanks to the work Rhoads has done.

“The new director is going to walk into a good, strong foundation,” Thomas said.

A large part of the role of the new director will be fundraising and capital improvement. The shelter is a nonprofit organization and runs entirely off donations and relies on the help of volunteers.

Thomas said board members hope to eventually grow the shelter’s staff, including hiring someone who can help move dogs out of the facility. Right now, volunteers are doing a majority of the work through social media and word of mouth. That is something the shelter finds especially important right now.

With more than 100 dogs in its care, the humane society is over capacity, so much so that it has begun housing dogs in cages outdoors because there is no space inside.

Part of the issue, manager Brittany May said, is that dogs are coming in faster than staff can adopt, rescue or foster them out.

“We are a no-kill shelter, as far as space goes,” May said.

To make the situation even more difficult, May said, people from other counties are bringing in found dogs because they have heard about the shelter’s no-kill status.

But Thomas said that, at this time of year, it is not unusual for the shelter to see this issue.

“It’s the time of year when dogs are out and moving, and it’s when the dog warden is moving,” Thomas said. “It’s about getting people educated and getting dogs spayed and neutered.”

If the shelter is forced to keep dogs outside in the winter, it will need donations of straw and dog boxes to keep them comfortable.

“It will take the community coming together and helping us tell everyone ... if we want to keep it (a no-kill shelter), we need the community to help,” May said.

“We would rather have dogs outside than euthanize them,” Thomas said.

The priority, and that of the new director, Thomas said, should be to establish what is in the best interest of the dogs in the shelter’s custody.

Want to help?

To inquire about adopting, fostering, donating or volunteering at the Ross County Humane Society, call 740-775-6808 or visit www.rosscountyhumanesociety.org