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YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Board of Commissioners will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m. today to address a halt in animal control services by Animal Charity of Ohio.
The meeting, scheduled for the basement of the Mahoning County Courthouse at 120 Market St., comes after Animal Charity of Ohio suspended its animal control operations. Shelter officials stated they can no longer provide the services without public funding.
According to the organization, it took in 254 animals through the program between Jan. 1 and June 1. Emergency housing, medical treatment, staffing, and feeding for those animals cost the nonprofit agency $156,000. Because the group receives no tax revenue or public funds for these specific operations, it has relied entirely on private donations, grants, and seasonal fundraising events to cover the deficit.
Animal control services include housing domestic pets when owners are hospitalized, arrested, evicted, or deceased. It also involves managing animals displaced by natural disasters, such as house fires and apartment explosions, or animals recovered during police searches and severe hoarding interventions. Shelter leaders noted that humane law enforcement investigations will continue to function normally.
Commissioners said in an earlier statement that the Mahoning County Dog Warden is limited to specific duties authorized under Ohio law. Without Animal Charity of Ohio as an active partner, critical services will be unavailable, creating a gap that impacts both animal welfare and the broader community.
The financial crisis reflects a regional strain on animal welfare resources. In neighboring Trumbull County, the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project shelter in Warren reported similar financial and capacity issues after taking in more than 400 animals since the start of the year. Jason Cooke, the founder of the facility, recently announced a pause on all dog and cat intakes due to a lack of space.
Mahoning County officials said they remain ready to work with community partners to reach a responsible solution.
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