MANSFIELD, Ohio — The Richland County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center has reached its holding capacity.
The shelter has too many dogs to be comfortable, said Kennel Supervisor Monique Hypes. On April 22, the shelter posted a message on their Facebook page.
The post said, “Our shelter is maxed out on space for larger breed dogs and pitties!! We NEED your HELP!!”
Hype said the shelter currently has 15 dogs too many. Every cage is being used, including the larger cages that usually only hold one dog. These cages are currently divided by a sliding door, with two dogs in each section.
“We usually open up both sections for one dog so it has more space. We can’t do that right now though. It makes it difficult to clean,” said Hypes.
The shelter’s longest resident dog is a pit bull: Bruno. He first was admitted into the shelter on May 16, 2014. Hypes said Bruno serves as a good test dog. Every dog that comes into the shelter meets Bruno. Judging on their interaction, Hypes decides whether the dog will be a good fit.
Interested adoptees must complete an application process. The process includes a background check and questions that help the shelter decide if the dog will be in good hands. Their standard adoption price runs $116. The price includes the first series of vaccinations, a microchip, the current year’s license, a discount for a spay/neuter procedure, and a rabies shot.
Some of the dogs are spayed and neutered already. Hypes said the shelter would do the procedure independently, but there are not enough funds.
The shelter encourages individuals to share their plea for help on social media. They have a Facebook page, a Youtube channel, and profiles on Instagram and Pinterest.
The shelter, located at 810 North Home Road, next to the Richland County Fairgrounds, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. They are open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Most of the large breed dogs living in the shelter are pit bulls. Hypes said the shelter has difficulty finding adopters for pit bulls because of their violent reputation.
And according to Mansfield’s Revised Code 505.3, pit bulls, and any breeds mixed with pit bulls, are considered a “dangerous and vicious dog” and is, therefore, prohibited within the city’s limits. Offenders of the ordinance are charged with a misdemeanor in the first degree, and the dog could be euthanized.
“As far as I know, Mansfield is the only city in Richland County that still prohibits owning pit bulls,” said Hypes. The shelter, she said, does not adopt out pit bulls to residents who live within Mansfield’s city limits.
In 2012, Ohio passed a law, House Bill 14, which removed pit bulls from the vicious dogs list.
“They’re wonderful dogs. That’s not to say that all our dogs are perfect. There are some that have issues, but most are okay,” said Hypes.
