Jane MacMurchie, representing Animal Charity of Ohio, told the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 30 that the nonprofit provides free animal-control services across the county without a formal county contract and is operating with no annual county appropriation. MacMurchie said Animal Charity met with the Mahoning County prosecutor's office and was given a quote of $20,000 per year to fully utilize prosecutor services for humane-crimes cases; she asked the board to confirm that the cost would be covered before the organization moves forward.

MacMurchie described frequent responses to scenes that also involved vulnerable people, including hoarding, structural decay and cases requiring coordination with children's and adult protective services. She said protecting animals often coincides with protecting people in cases involving drug abuse, gun violence, elder neglect and domestic violence. MacMurchie said the nonprofit is donor-funded and facing the possibility of cutting services without new support.

Board and staff members asked clarifying questions; county staff and others said they would follow up on grant and fund options. County staff referred to prior federal CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) assistance and a $100,000 CCAO local-assistance grant used elsewhere, and suggested possible opioid-settlement abatement funding as a potential source for programs in which Animal Charity acts as a first responder. Diane, the county dog warden, and other partners described regular operational support and occasional small grants used for spay-neuter work.

MacMurchie provided specific program details: much of Animal Charity's caseload originates in Youngstown; two Youngstown council members allocated $12,500 each for a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program (targeting up to 500 cats through Dec. 2026), and one councilor gave a $10,000 stipend in January 2025 to cover veterinary care for a single case. She said Animal Charity has handled 763 animals so far this year, including 109 senior-related intakes, and outlined that the group conducts bake sales, raffles and other small fundraisers to cover costs.

County staff offered to forward information on an annual state spay/neuter license-plate grant and to explore other grant opportunities. Staff also said commissioners previously allocated approximately $500,000 from CARES Act and ARPA funding over the last four years to assist animal-related operations and that small pet-license and local grant awards have been used to supplement nonprofit activity.

MacMurchie's request to the commissioners was procedural and financial: she asked the board to confirm that statutes allowing humane societies to employ counsel would be honored and to consider annual appropriations to sustain countywide animal-control services. No formal action on a new appropriation was taken at the Oct. 30 meeting; staff said they would follow up on potential funding sources and grant programs.