Animal shelter inspections not required in Ohio

Local officials said the recent removal of more than 650 dogs and cats from rescue shelters in Huber Heights, Bethel Twp. and Piqua because of poor living conditions and neglect highlight a loophole in Ohio law that does not require shelters to be inspected.

Animal advocates and officials said that even shelter operators with the best intentions can accept too many animals and become overwhelmed, which can result in the animals suffering serious neglect.

“Other states have some

stringent inspection requirements,”

said Mark Kumpf, director of the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center.

“We don’t have those here in Ohio.”

In another neglect case, a few of the 50 exotic birds found at a home in Troy are being cared for on the property by the Miami County Humane Society. Officials said charges could result from their ongoing investigation…more

Investigation of animal shelter continuing this weekend

BETHEL TWP., Clark County — Authorities will likely spend the weekend investigating an animal neglect case here because of the large number of animals — 361 dogs and 15 cats at last count — kept in two old hog barns.

It’s the largest case of its kind that the county has seen, said Clark County Humane Society Director Jim Straley Friday.

The Thursday raid on the property at 8393 Lower Valley Pike is the second shelter raided by authorities in two weeks operated under the One More Chance Adoption name and owned and managed by New Carlisle resident Jeff Burgess…

Mark Kumpf, director of the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center… said it appears the case is one of the largest ever handled by Ohio animal welfare workers.

Kumpf is critical of state animal care law, which he said is inadequate because shelters aren’t required to undergo annual inspections. Private rescue operations, often in residential areas, typically fall only under local zoning codes…more