NAPOLEON, Ohio —
The Henry County Humane Society has been hit with more than a dozen humane-related cases over the past few weeks, causing the shelter to be at more than double its capacity.
"This is a lot. This is the most I have seen here," said kennel manager Jennifer Olejniczak.
Krystyll Harden, director of the humane society, said a few dogs that came into the shelter "were being neglected and emaciated and full of parasites."
The shelter can typically hold up to 10 dogs, but Harden says it currently has around 25.
It's not just full of dogs, either. The shelter is getting overcrowded with cats, too.
"We had a pretty rough kitten season. We normally can take 40 at a time and we have 66," Harden said.
The shelter saw a jump in its kitten population after taking in multiple pregnant cats. In all, the Napoleon shelter has nearly 100 animals and its staff and rescues are under immense strain.
Five employees and even fewer volunteers work at the shelter.
"The animals feel the stress just as much as we do and then there's always supplies, laundry, detergent, bleach, cleaning, so much laundry and dishes and keeping them up on what they need first," Olejniczak said.
The humane society doesn't get any government funding, so it's always open to donations, but Olejniczak says giving your time can be just as helpful, especially right now.
"Come in and lend a hand even to socialize because they (the animals) need that human experience and that bonding," she said.