40% of the 640 cats and dogs entering the Chillicothe Animal Shelter in 2019 we’re killed. Most of these are healthy animals that have not been professionally evaluated for temperament so they are killed as being aggressive, feral kitties that could be fixed and released and many that can be helped by animal rescues across the state and beyond . The adoption rate was at 14%. Many can also be reunited with their owners but minimum effort is made to find their owner. $72,000 is given to the Livingston County Humane Society to manage the shelter and the animal control for the city. Another $2500 per year plus extra requested funds is provided by Livingston County. These amounts do not include the grants and donations received. In 2018 the Humane Society received a total of just over $210,000 in funds. Their operating funds were just over $144,000. They also have at least 4 employees, community service workers and 2-4 prisoners working at the shelter Monday-Friday.  There are plenty of resources to make changes. Please let the Chillicothe, MO City Council and the Livingston County Humane Society know that you want your tax dollars to be used to save our animals, not kill them. More can be done! What would happen if your pet ended up in the Chillicothe Animal Shelter? Speak for those that can’t!