Why Columbus Needs a New Animal Care Facility

About 100 volunteers give their time to the operation of Animal Care Services.

When we talk about essential city services, we often think of fire departments, police, roads, and utilities. But just as vital to a compassionate and well-functioning community is how we care for animals, and how we support the people who work tirelessly to protect them.

That’s why I want to share with you the critical need for a new facility for Columbus Animal Care Services (CACS) and the role this department plays in our community every single day.

The Mission: Protecting Animals and People
CACS operates with a clear mission:
To ensure the safety, welfare, and humane treatment of all animals and the people they encounter.
This mission is carried out through a variety of services, including:

• Animal control and rescue
• Shelter and adoption programs
• Veterinary care and spay/neuter services
• Pet food and care assistance
• Community education and population control

What Animal Care Services Provides
CACS handles over 1,800 animals per year—and that number doesn’t even include wildlife unless they’re injured or in human living spaces. The department:

• Responds to 52 bite cases per year on average
• Has an officer on-call 24/7, 365 days a year
• Partners regularly with Columbus Police and Fire
• Rescues animals from hazardous conditions, including drain pipes and abandoned buildings

But it doesn’t stop at emergencies. CACS also runs adoption programs, reunites lost pets with their families, and coordinates interstate pet transport programs like Canine Express and Kitty Caravan.

Staff, Volunteers & Community PartnershipsDespite being under-resourced, the department works thanks to:

• 4 full-time Animal Care Services Officers
• 8 Kennel Assistants
• A Center Supervisor
• 100+ volunteers supporting daily operations and special programs

CACS also partners with Friends of Animal Care Services, a nonprofit that funds spay/neuter programs, the Furry Friends Food Bank, and more. In 2023, the group raised over $250,000 through events like CATalina.

How It’s Funded
CACS is funded through a mix of:

• City tax dollars (covering wages, utilities, and maintenance)
• Fines and fees
• Monetary and in-kind donations from the community

All food and medical care for animals come from the Adoption Medical Fund, which uses no tax dollars and spent over $200,000 in 2024 alone. It costs around $150 to prepare each animal for transport to partner shelters.

Why the Current Facility Is No Longer Sustainable
Our current facility, built in 1987, was designed for a different era:

• Built for 22 dogs and 24 cats
• Just 4,900 square feet in size
• Only 15 parking spots for 16–18 staff and public visitors
• Storage and even food overflow into Parks & Rec buildings across the street

​What we’re seeing today:

• Overcrowded kennels and poor ventilation
• Clogged drains, burst pipes, and maxed-out electrical systems
• Unhealthy and hazardous working conditions
• Insufficient office space, parking, and storage
• Dangerous environments for animals and staff

Despite the original intention to expand the facility in 1997, those plans never materialized. We’ve now reached a point where basic maintenance can no longer keep up with the demands of the building—and our community.

The Path Forward
A new facility is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.
Planning is currently underway for a new Animal Care Services building—one that matches both the size and values of our growing city. As liaison to this department, I will continue to advocate for a space that reflects the commitment our city has made to humane animal care, public safety, and the dedicated people who make it all happen.

I’ll be sharing more updates soon, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting this essential cause.
If you’ve adopted a pet, called for animal control, or believe in caring for all creatures in our community—this is your facility, too.

Let’s build something better, together.
--
Jay
City Council Liaison to Columbus Animal Care Services

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