The Cleveland Animal Protective League

THE APL'S MISSION IS TO FOSTER COMPASSION AND END ANIMAL SUFFERING. THE APL PROVIDES SHELTER, CARE, AND MEDICAL TREATMENT TO ANIMALS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND/OR SUFFERED CRUELTY OR NEGLECT.

ANIMAL SHELTERING, CARE & OUTREACH*: THE APL OPERATES A 40,000 SQUARE FOOT ANIMAL SHELTER AND RESOURCE CENTER THAT IS IN THE TREMONT NEIGHBORHOOD OF CLEVELAND. IN 2023, THE APL BROUGHT IN 7,846 ANIMALS THAT WERE SURRENDERED BY THEIR OWNERS, IMPOUNDED BY OUR HUMANE AGENTS, TRANSFERRED IN FROM OTHER OVERCROWDED SHELTERS OR TO ASSIST WITH EMERGENCY SITUATIONS IN OTHER AREAS, AND STRAY CATS FOUND BY GOOD SAMARITANS. ONCE AT THE APL, THEY RECEIVE THE CARE AND TREATMENT THEY NEED UNTIL THEY CAN BE PLACED UP FOR ADOPTION. WHEN THE SHELTER IS FULL OR WHEN ANIMALS HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS THAT WILL BE BETTER MET IN A HOME, THEY ARE PLACED WITH TEMPORARY, VOLUNTEER FOSTER FAMILIES UNTIL THEY CAN COME BACK TO THE APL FOR ADOPTION. IN 2023, 2,959 OF THE 7,846 **************** (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION) **************** ...ANIMALS THAT WERE ADMITTED TO THE APL RECEIVED CARE IN FOSTER HOMES. BY THE END OF 2023, WE HAD PLACED 6,598 OF THOSE ANIMALS THROUGH ADOPTIONS, BEING RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS, OR BEING TRANSFERRED TO OTHER RESCUE GROUPS OR SHELTERS FOR ADOPTION RESULTING IN AN OVERALL 93% SAVE RATE (PERCENT OF ANIMALS TAKEN IN THAT WERE PLACED OR STILL IN OUR CARE). THROUGH "PROJECT CARE" (COMMUNITY ANIMAL RETENTION EFFORT), THE APL HELPS INCOME-QUALIFIED PET OWNERS IN CLEVELAND BY PROVIDING THEM WITH ACCESS TO CARE AND RESOURCES, SUCH AS PET FOOD, GROOMING, VACCINATIONS, AND WELLNESS CARE, THAT THEY WANT AND NEED FOR THEIR PETS. IN 2023, PROJECT CARE ASSISTED MORE THAN 963 DESERVING PETS IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND. THE APL RELIES ON THE SUPPORT OF PRIVATE DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE ALL THIS WORK POSSIBLE. THE APL DOES NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR OPERATIONS. IT ALSO IS NOT GOVERNED BY AND DOES NOT RECEIVE REGULAR OPERATING SUPPORT FROM ANY NATIONAL ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION.

HUMANE INVESTIGATIONS*: THE APL IS THE LEAD AGENCY IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY FOR INVESTIGATING ANIMAL CRUELTY, NEGLECT, AND ABANDONMENT. UNDER OHIO LAW, THE CLEVELAND APL'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS AUTHORIZED TO APPOINT HUMANE SOCIETY AGENTS TO ENFORCE LOCAL AND STATE ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS. THOSE APPOINTMENTS MUST THEN BE APPROVED BY THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROBATE COURT. THE APL DOES NOT RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDING IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM; IT IS FUNDED SOLELY BY DONATIONS. IN 2023, THE HUMANE INVESTIGATIONS TEAM OPENED 2,043 NEW INVESTIGATIONS OF SUSPECTED ANIMAL ABUSE AND EITHER IMPOUNDED OR RESCUED 1,482 ANIMALS. THE APL'S HUMANE SOCIETY AGENTS ALSO SEEK JUSTICE FOR ANIMAL VICTIMS OF ABUSE BY WORKING WITH PROSECUTORS TO CONVICT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH **************** (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION) **************** ...ANIMAL CRUELTY OR NEGLECT. UNDER OHIO LAW, HUMANE AGENTS ARE MANDATED REPORTERS FOR CHILD AND ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE EXPENSES SHARED IN THIS SECTION REPRESENT THE CORE COST OF OPERATING OUR HUMANE INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF CARING FOR THE ANIMAL VICTIMS OF CRUELTY THAT COME IN THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WHICH RANGES FROM BASIC DAILY CARE TO EXTENSIVE, SOMETIMES COMPLEX, VETERINARY CARE TO HEAL THEIR BROKEN BODIES AND SAVE THEIR LIVES.

SHELTER VETERINARY SERVICES*: THE APL VETERINARY CLINIC PROVIDES SPAY/NEUTER, MEDICAL, AND OTHER SURGICAL SERVICES FOR ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE APL FOR REHOMING. ALL CATS, DOGS AND RABBITS ARE STERILIZED PRIOR TO BEING ADOPTED FROM THE APL. THROUGH DONATIONS TO THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM, ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN SURRENDERED TO THE APL'S SHELTER AND HAVE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES THAT CAN BE SAFELY AND HUMANELY TREATED WILL RECEIVE THE MEDICAL AND/OR SURGICAL CARE THEY NEED TO LIVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY LIFE. SOMETIMES THIS CARE IS QUITE EXTENSIVE AND COMPLEX. IN 2023, 5,000 SHELTER ANIMALS WERE STERILIZED, AND 5,128 SHELTER ANIMALS RECEIVED 11,567 DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, TREATMENTS, PROCEDURES, AND/OR SURGERIES.