Paws Humane reached an important milestone this past week. “February 3rd marked one year since Paws Humane Society began managing Animal Care and Control services for the City of Columbus,” said Courtney Pierce of Paws Humane. “This transition was undertaken with a clear goal: to increase lifesaving outcomes while maintaining public safety.”
Paws Humane took over operations at Columbus Animal Care and Control in February of 2025 after a highly publicized criminal investigation involving animal cruelty led to the arrests of eight workers at the city run shelter.
Pierce could not give specific data involving euthanasia in Columbus but indicated the transition has been a success when it comes to saving animals. “Regarding euthanasia rates, I do not currently have access to complete and accurate historical reports from Columbus Animal Care & Control prior to the transition that would allow for a precise, side-by-side comparison. However, under Paws Humane Society’s management, we have achieved a 90.8% save rate, which meets the nationally recognized benchmark for a no-kill community.”
Reaching that benchmark is not the end game for Paws, Pierce said. “It’s important to note that this number is not our ceiling. We will continue to evaluate our programs, expand lifesaving efforts, and work toward even higher save rates while ensuring humane, responsible outcomes for the animals and the community we serve.”
