The Richland County Dog Shelter in Mansfield, Ohio, is facing a crisis after receiving 24 new dogs in just three days, pushing their total to 77 dogs currently in their care. The shelter is now “completely overwhelmed” and running out of space, forcing them to resort to using wire kennels to accommodate the influx.
The overcrowding issue is exacerbated by several long-term residents who have been waiting for years to find homes. Some of these dogs have been moved to the Mansfield Correctional Institution (ManCI) as part of the prison’s training program to free up space at the shelter.
Long-Term Residents Still Waiting
Two of the dogs currently in the ManCI training program, Heller and Bishop, have spent an agonizingly long time in the shelter. Heller was brought in as a stray on May 6, 2022, and as of September 10, 2024, he has been in the shelter for 858 days. Bishop has been waiting for 778 days since being taken in on July 25, 2022.
Adoption Fees and What They Include
The shelter has reduced adoption fees in hopes of finding homes for these long-term residents:
- $50 for dogs in the shelter for over a year
- $100 for dogs in the shelter for over six months
- $125 for dogs in the shelter for over three months
- $150 for dogs in the shelter for under three months
Each adoption fee covers spaying or neutering, the first round of vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, and a current dog license.
How to Help
The shelter is calling on the community to help alleviate the overcrowding by adopting dogs like Heller and Bishop, who desperately need homes. If you are interested in adopting or have any questions, contact the Richland County Dog Warden .
By providing a “fur-ever” home to these deserving dogs, you can help the shelter manage its space crisis while giving these animals the chance for a better life.
