COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Hundreds of cats and dogs are surrendered to local animal shelters every year.
People who drop off animals at the Capital Area Humane Society (CAHS) now face a charge.
The society decided the donation structure for dropped-off animals was misleading and is asking for an admission fee.
"Donation implies it is charitable deduction, and it isn't. It's a fee for service," CAHS Director Jodi Buckman said.
An owner giving up a dog or cat will pay $60.
Surrendering a stray will cost $30.
Buckman said CAHS continues to work with pet owners or finders and routinely lowers or waives its fees.
"If our staff feels as though that animal might be in danger of abandonment, they can waive all policy and procedure and take that animal in so we can provide care," Buckman said.
As of Tuesday, Sept. 1, the Capital Area Humane Society will no longer accept stray cats from outside of Franklin County. If the cats are lost, they have the best opportunity to be reunited with their owners if they stay in their home county.
The society continues to admit owner-surrendered dogs and cats from any county.
The Franklin County Dog Shelter charges $10 for owners who surrender their dogs.
"It gives people that momentary pause and realize that it's a service that's being provided," said Don Winstel of the Franklin County Dog Shelter.
There's no fee to drop off a stray at the dog shelter.
Winstel said it's possible that more people will surrender dogs to the shelter than the humane society because of the price difference.
"If we get to the point where we feel like it's too crowded, then we'll be able to send some dogs elsewhere to the Capital Area Humane Society and to others elsewhere," Winstel said.
The dog shelter is a government-funded organization with the primary role of the care and sheltering of stray dogs. As a tax-funded agency, it has a lower fee structure for owned dogs and no fee for strays, according to Buckman.
As a private, nonprofit organization supported by donations, CAHS doesn’t shelter stray dogs as that is the shelter’s responsibility under the law, Buckman said.
Go to http://www.cahs-pets.org/ for more information.
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement