Our Mission
As a private, non-profit 501c3 organization, the Animal Shelter Society exists to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of homeless animals in Muskingum County through the dedicated efforts of employees and volunteers and the generous support of our caring community.
We will strive to accomplish our Mission by focusing our efforts on:
•The efficient and effective adoption of homeless animals to responsible owners;
•The diligent promotion of spay and neuter to curb the population of unwanted animals;
•The recruitment and training of knowledgeable staff, dedicated volunteers and community supporters;
•The continuous public education programs on the prevention of cruelty to animals;
•The prudent stewardship of the Shelter’s tangible and intangible assets.
FAQs
What does “adoptable, no-kill” mean?
We are an “adoptable, no-kill” shelter, which means that we never euthanize for space. There is no “death row” at our facility! We do, however, have occasions where it is in the best interest of the animal to perform a humane euthanization due to an extreme medical or behavioral condition that cannot be rehabilitated.
If I suspect an animal is being abused or neglected, can I report it to The Animal Shelter Society?
We do not have any authority or jurisdiction to investigate cases of neglect or abuse. If you need to report a case of potential neglect or abuse, please call the Muskingum County Humane Officer at (740) 450-7293.
What is a 501(c)3?
Section 501(c)(3) is the portion of the US Internal Revenue Code that allows for federal tax exemption of nonprofit organizations, specifically those that are considered public charities, private foundations or private operating foundations. These are often referred to as “non-profits”.
Donations to a 501(c)3 are tax deductible.
We are a 100% 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
How is The Animal Shelter Society funded?
We are a public charity and do not receive any funding from the local government or from taxes. Our funding comes from fees (like adoption fees or Wellness Clinic fees), grants, fundraising events and the generous support of people like you!
Do you receive any funds from Muskingum County Dog License fees?
The Animal Shelter Society, Inc. is one of twelve satellite vendors that sells dog licenses; per the Ohio Revised Code, satellite vendors receive a 75 cent processing fee for each dog license that is sold at their facility to help cover the administrative cost of selling the license. We do not receive any additional fees from the sale of the dog licenses and all license fees go to Muskingum County to fund the K-9 Adoption Center.
What is the difference between The Animal Shelter Society, Inc., The Muskingum County K-9 Adoption Center and the Muskingum County Humane Society?
We understand this can be confusing! We are a public charity governed by a Board of Directors. We are not associated with the Muskingum County government and are responsible to operate our organization, being accountable to the public who supports us.
The Muskingum County K-9 Adoption Center is under the authority of the Muskingum County Sheriff and the Muskingum County Commissioners. They receive funding from dog license fees. The Sheriff has several responsibilities regarding dogs at-large outlined in the Ohio Revised Code.
The Muskingum County Humane Society is responsible, through the Humane Officer, for investigating reports of neglect and abuse of animals. If you need to report a case of potential neglect or abuse, please call (740) 450-7293 and leave a message.
What forms of payment do we accept?
We accept cash and most major credit cards (we do charge a small credit card processing fee).