THANK YOU to our supporters!

We are gaining momentum, but despite strong support, we have still not been “heard” by our County Commissioners. County administration continue to refuse to pay their fair share of the shelter's budget to deliver the county's statutory obligations to provide base level animal services to their constituents - basically, the outdated “catch & kill” model of animal sheltering. 

Simply put, Clermont County government is responsible for providing funding to fulfill their obligations, yet they are underfunding the budget so the humane society and donors are picking up the tab. And since humane society funds are earmarked for everything else necessary to keep the shelter no-kill and build a no-kill community, the money being diverted to subsidize the county shortfall is being taken from funding that could be used to help more animals.

The county recently put the Humane Society's contract out for bid, seeking a low-cost provider. The humane society isn’t asking to make a profit, they are only asking to break-even. And since the funds they are asking for, which equate to $1.41/year per Clermont County resident, don’t build in a profit, there isn’t any room left for negotiation.

We’ve been told that the county has been asked to run the numbers for themselves but that they refuse to do so, instead simply stating that the humane society numbers are too high. We understand that operating budgets and 990s have been provided as support, yet the county continues to reject those numbers without any basis for doing so. 

Money should not be the deciding factor if the price they are paying doesn’t adequately cover the delivery of their statutory obligations. Merely seeking the "low cost provider" doesn't support lifesaving when the funding isn't sufficient to cover basic needs. A shelter simply can't be "no kill" for long if it isn't even funded at levels required for the "catch & kill" model. Corners will be cut and animals will pay the price with their lives. 

Join us in standing firm with Clermont Animal CARE and standing up for the people and animals of Clermont County, Ohio. Please help keep the pressure on my taking a moment to share this petition or calling Commissioners at (513) 732-7300 or emailing:

David Painter (dpainter@clermontcountyohio.gov)

Edwin Humphrey (ehumphrey@clermontcountyohio.gov)

Claire Corcoran (ccorcoran@clermontcountyohio.gov)!