Nebraska Humane Society

THE NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY IS COMMITTED TO THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS. THE SOCIETY PROVIDES EDUCATION, GIVES SANCTUARY TO ANIMALS, ENCOURAGES ADOPTION OF ANIMALS, AND PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP.

ANIMAL CONTROL - THE NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY (NHS) ACTS AS THE ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCY FOR THE GREATER OMAHA AREA. MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDE OMAHA, BELLEVUE, PAPILLION, SPRINGFIELD, RALSTON, LA VISTA, GRETNA, AND SARPY COUNTY, NEBRASKA. NHS ALSO ACTS AS THE ANIMAL LICENSING AGENCY FOR THE CITY OF OMAHA AND SARPY COUNTY. IN 2023, NHS RECEIVED 86,496 INCOMING CALLS RESULTING IN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS BEING DISPATCHED 24,378 TIMES DURING THE YEAR. THESE CALLS INCLUDED REPORTS OF STRAY, INJURED OR DEAD ANIMALS, AND PROBLEMS WITH WILDLIFE. THERE WERE 3,573 INVESTIGATIONS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY, BARKING, BITES, AND ABANDONMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, 638 CITATIONS WERE WRITTEN. IN 2023, 2,119 LOST PETS WERE RETURNED TO OWNERS, 153 RECEIVED A FREE RIDE HOME. ANIMAL LICENSING INCLUDED - DOG LICENSES ISSUED: 14,987 INTACT, 89,790 ALTERED, CAT LICENSES ISSUED: 839 INTACT, 40,673 ALTERED. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOGS - 100, DANGEROUS DOGS - 15, MINI PIG - 14. LICENSES FOR ANIMALS WERE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO 4,389 COMPANION ANIMALS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AGED 65 AND OLDER RESIDING IN BELLEVUE, PAPILLION, SPRINGFIELD, LAVISTA, UNINCORPORATED SARPY COUNTY AND WATERLOO. NO CHARGE LICENSES WERE ALSO PROVIDED TO 246 SERVICE DOGS AND 12 COMPANION SUPPORT PETS.

ANIMAL WELFARE - ANIMALS ARRIVING AT THE SHELTER ARE EXAMINED, EVALUATED, AND TREATED BY OUR MEDICAL SERVICES TEAM. ALL ADOPTABLE DOGS, CATS, PUPPIES, AND KITTENS ARE SPAYED OR NEUTERED. ADDITIONALLY, SOME REQUIRE SURGERY FOR KNEE OR HIP PROBLEMS, EYE ISSUES, AMPUTATIONS, OR DENTAL PROCEDURES. OTHERS NEED MEDICATIONS TO FIGHT INFECTIONS AND PARASITES. MOST CATS AND DOGS WHO ENTER THE SHELTER ALSO NEED TO BE TREATED FOR FLEAS AND/OR TICKS.SHELTER MEDICAL SERVICES PERFORMED FOR 2023 INCLUDE: 4,780 SPAY/NEUTER PROCEDURES; 470 OTHER SURGERIES (HIPS, KNEES, AMPUTATIONS, EYES, AND DENTALS) 6,730 DIAGNOSTIC TESTS (HEARTWORM, FELINE LEUKEMIA, X-RAYS, BLOOD TESTS, SKIN SCRAPES) AND 5,322 DOGS AND CATS WERE MICROCHIPPED. ADDITIONALLY, ALL ANIMALS ARE VACCINATED BEFORE THEY ARE PLACED FOR ADOPTION.DURING 2023, A TOTAL OF 7,152 ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED THROUGH THE NHS. THIS INCLUDES DOGS, CATS, HORSES, AND OTHER SMALL ANIMALS, SUCH AS HAMSTERS, RABBITS, BIRDS, ETC. ONCE IN THE ADOPTION PROGRAM, DOGS AND CATS ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED, MICRO-CHIPPED AND GIVEN THEIR FIRST SERIES OF SHOTS. ADOPTION KENNELS ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. IN 2023, 1,401 ANIMALS NOT YET READY FOR ADOPTION WERE CARED FOR IN 262 FOSTER CARE HOMES BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH - NHS PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 665 CALLS TO THE BEHAVIOR HELPLINE WERE ANSWERED, AND PET CARE TIPS WERE AIRED ON LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO SHOWS. MORE THAN 4,097 CHILDREN AND ADULTS TOURED THE SHELTER AND ATTENDED HUMANE EDUCATION EVENTS. STAFF AND VOLUNTEER EDUCATORS ALSO PROVIDED PRESENTATIONS TO RELIGIOUS AND CIVIC GROUPS, BUSINESSES, HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES, SENIOR CENTERS, AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THE SUMMER PROGRAM, CAMP KINDNESS, ENROLLED 444 CHILDREN IN 2023. COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED ARE ADDRESSED BY SEVERAL PROGRAMS: THE PET LOSS SUPPORT GROUP, PROJECT PET SAFE (PROVIDES SHELTER TO PETS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE), ANIMEALS (PROVIDES PET FOOD TO SENIOR CITIZENS ON A FIXED INCOME RECEIVING MEALS ON WHEELS), PET FOOD PANTRY (PROVIDES PET FOOD AND CAT LITTER FOR PET OWNERS EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY ECONOMIC CHALLENGES) AND THE BEHAVIOR HELPLINE (A FREE CALL-IN SERVICE WHERE PROFESSIONAL STAFF HELPED PET OWNERS WITH TRAINING NEEDS.)