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 2021, NHS RECEIVED 87,944 INCOMING CALLS RESULTING IN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS BEING DISPATCHED 30,079 TIMES DURING THE YEAR. THESE CALLS INCLUDED REPORTS OF STRAY, INJURED OR DEAD ANIMALS, AND PROBLEMS WITH WILDLIFE. THERE WERE 7,113 INVESTIGATIONS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY, BARKING, BITES, AND ABANDONMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, 785 CITATIONS WERE WRITTEN. IN 2021, 2,384 LOST PETS WERE RETURNED TO OWNERS, 100 RECEIVED A FREE RIDE HOME. ANIMAL LICENSING INCLUDED - DOG LICENSES ISSUED: 16,711 INTACT, 96,831 ALTERED. CAT LICENSES ISSUED: 784 INTACT, 43,639 ALTERED. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOGS - 133, DANGEROUS DOGS - 10, MINI PIG - 23. LICENSES FOR ANIMALS WERE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO 3,717 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 247 SERVICE DOGS AND 27 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 2021 INCLUDE: 5,268 SPAY/NEUTER PROCEDURES; 970 OTHER SURGERIES (HIPS, KNEES, AMPUTATIONS, EYES, AND DENTALS) 15,237 DIAGNOSTIC TESTS (HEARTWORM, FELINE LEUKEMIA, X-RAYS, BLOOD TESTS, SKIN SCRAPES) AND 5,864 DOGS AND CATS WERE MICROCHIPPED. ADDITIONALLY, ALL ANIMALS ARE VACCINATED BEFORE THEY ARE PLACED FOR ADOPTION.DURING 2021, A TOTAL OF 8,269 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 2021, 1,690 ANIMALS NOT YET READY FOR ADOPTION WERE CARED FOR IN 216 FOSTER CARE HOMES BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH - NHS PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER CENTER COMPLETED 6,453 SURGERIES, 1,122 CALLS TO THE BEHAVIOR HELPLINE WERE ANSWERED, AND PET CARE TIPS WERE AIRED ON LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO SHOWS. MORE THAN 967 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 316 CHILDREN IN 2021. 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.)