Valentine's pup all grown up ❤️

Zivah (named Amora at the shelter) was one of six boxer-bulldog puppies all adopted around Valentine's Day, and we just got these adorable photos of her. 
The family would love to see updates on any of the other pups — share 'em here if you like, or email or message us!
Her family told us, "She is doing well and growing like a weed. She's a little social bug and really enjoyed going to the Bark in the Park events at the Indy Indians games and boating this summer in Michigan! Thank you again for your help with bringing her into my family."

Dog tag update from the Clinton County auditor

Dog tags officially go on sale Saturday, December 1, 2019 for the 2020 license year. Clinton County Auditor, Terence G. Habermehl, will be sending out renewal applications to all owners who purchased a 2019 tag.

The last day to purchase 2020 Clinton County Dog license without a penalty being assessed is January 31, 2020. The cost of a single dog license is $14, and a kennel license is $70. Recent law changes allow dog owners to now purchase three year and permanent dog licenses for their dogs. The cost of a three-year license is $42 and a permanent license is $140. Effective February 1st, 2020, the Ohio Revised Code requires the Auditor to charge a penalty equal to the fee of the license for late registration. Thus, regular tags will be $28 each and $140 for kennels starting February 1, 2020.

Regular dog licenses can be purchased in the CLINTON COUNTY AUDITORS OFFICE in person any time during the year.

additional $2 charge per tag for this service. Please visit www.doglicenses.us/oh/clinton to take advantage of this service. Residents can also access the service via a link on the Clinton County Auditor’s home page.
December 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020, Mr. Habermehl has also authorized the following local retailers to sell dog tags for an additional fee:

•BUCKLEY BROS DRIVE THRU
•BROWNS DISTRIBUTING
•VILLAGE OF NEW VIENNA WATER DEPT
•BDK FEED & SUPPLY
•D & G’s PAWS & CLAWS SNACK SHACK
If you are unable to make it to any of the listed locations above, you may send your dog and owner information to the Auditor’s office and a tag will be issued and mailed back to you. Please include an additional $1 processing fee for this service to cover postage and mailing costs.

Kennel licenses can be renewed through the mail with the renewal application that is being mailed out to previously registered Kennel owners. NEW kennel licenses can ONLY be purchased at the Clinton County Auditor’s office on the first floor of the Courthouse. If you have questions concerning your eligibility for a kennel license, please contact the Auditor’s Office for more information.

Yes, we do have a lot of pit bulls.

We hear it a lot. “Wow, you have a lot of pit bulls.”
Yes, we do have a lot of pit bulls. Right now, the vast majority of the dogs available for adoption at our shelter are pits or pit mixes. 
If all our kennels were occupied by fluffy golden retrievers or Labradoodles, we actually wouldn’t have any occupied kennels — those dogs would be adopted in a heartbeat.
However, we don’t get to place orders for breeds. And, more important, these pit bulls don’t get to place orders for homes.
They didn’t choose to get discarded by their humans. They didn’t choose to end up in the dog pound. They didn’t realize that some shelters won’t even “deal with pit bulls.”
But our shelter, the Clinton County Humane Society, does deal with pit bulls. We take them in, we feed them and keep them warm, and we show them love and affection. And boy, do pit bulls appreciate love and affection.
Our shelter pulls pits and pit mixes from the local pound, even though those dogs stay far too long waiting on their forever homes, even though their extended stays can drain resources — more food, more medicine, more veterinary care. And wow, the cost of veterinary care has skyrocketed over the past five years.
Pit bulls didn’t make the decisions for cities or municipalities that created breed-specific legislation, nor were they part of insurance companies that place them on banned lists of dogs. No, those decisions were made by humans.
Pit bulls are overbred and oftentimes misunderstood, and their backgrounds are unknown to shelters, limiting appropriate placements to homeowners and folks without small children.
Even with all those roadblocks, we eventually find homes for pits, and we hear from so many folks who cannot imagine their worlds without their adoptive pitties.
All we are asking is for people to keep open minds, do research, and spread the word about all the pit bulls at our shelter and the reasons they’re with us. Consider adopting a pit or a pit mix.
Thank you.
Please share so others can see these gorgeous faces too.
***
More about breed-specific legislation: https://www.aspca.org/…/dog…/what-breed-specific-legislation

It happened! Ginger was adopted!

Our hearts are so grateful!
First, we want to thank everyone who shared sweet Ginger’s posting on Facebook — you are a big part of the reason she was adopted on Friday. We are thrilled! You all shared her post 222 times, reaching thousands of people, which always help our animals get maximum exposure.
As you may remember, we had been baffled why such a sweetheart of a dog had been at our shelter for so many months. Ginger had been losing weight and was just generally very stressed without a home. In her most recent post, we had expressed hope that we would someday see “the day when Ginger finds her forever family and they send us a photo of Ginger sprawled out on her own comfy bed, without a care in the world.”
Well, that day has come, and her new family could not be more perfect for her (although they told us they can’t believe how perfect SHE is).
Her adopters had already bought her a new bed, and they came to the shelter bearing gifts in the form of a dog toy, which is now her favorite toy.
Ginger is now named Naima, “like the elegant, beautiful piece by John Coltrane,” and she is part of a music-centric family, so she can listen to the saxophone instead of the barking of other shelter dogs.
Her family lives close to a bike path, so Naima — as we had dreamed about — has taken 4-mile walks followed by deep, undisturbed naps, without a care in the world — and she does have her own comfy bed (even though she also seems to enjoy the human furniture too).
Adoptions by folks like Naima’s people are such a healing salve for some of the rough days we have, worrying about homeless animals and fighting against the odds to decrease the population of homeless pets.
It is happy ending for a truly deserving dog.

Kingston was adopted — with help from our friends

Thank you, Wilmington (Ohio) News Journal, for getting the word out last week about King the cat! He was adopted on Sunday!

Brother Louie warmed up to gorgeous Jack

This is gorgeous Jack, who has finally charmed his older brother, Louie, into being great friends.
His family told us they're considering doing a DNA test because Jack (named Brett at the shelter) looks so much like the Dutch shepherds they've seen online. 
"Jack is taking very well to training. We just started puppy class with him. He's very smart, and very treat-driven! Lol. He'll do anything for one. Hope all is well with you and your team!! Thank you all for such a great dog. We love him!!"
Thank YOU for adopting Jack from the Clinton County Humane Society!