Clermont County shelter reports 97.5% live-release rate, highlights facility upgrades and enforcement activity
February 10, 2026 | Clermont County, Ohio
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Clermont County animal shelter staff told the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 9 that the shelter achieved a 97.5% live-release rate in 2025, completed several facility upgrades and recorded significant enforcement activity, including seizures in cruelty and neglect cases.
During a departmental update moved early on the agenda, a kennel presenter said the shelter employs 14 people, operates 42 kennels with a typical population of 30–35 dogs, and seeks to keep kennels a temporary placement rather than a long-term solution. "Our live release rate is a 97.5%," the presenter stated, adding that the shelter works to move long-term animals into transfer or adoption settings as quickly as possible.
Chief Dog Warden Tim Pappas provided enforcement and outcome statistics. He reported that staff seized 87 dogs in cruelty or neglect cases in 2025 and that total restitution ordered for the year was $33,660.05. Pappas described the county's enforcement workload: "We had 422 citations last year" for running-at-large, registration and tag violations; "56 dog bite investigations," 38 dangerous-dog designations and four vicious designations; and 77 cruelty investigations that resulted in 31 people being charged with a total of 296 charges. "I will say, and knock wood, I do have a 100% conviction rate on all this," Pappas said.
Shelter staff also outlined program and partnership activity. They reported 13 volunteer/foster orientations beginning in March 2025, roughly 85 orientation attendees, and 276 foster placements during the year (the presenter said this number represents placements, not necessarily new foster households). The shelter cited 26 transfer partners, including local nonprofits and regional model-adoption programs, and credited a contracted behavior trainer and volunteer groomers with improving outcomes.
Facility improvements completed late in the year include 30 outdoor kennels on concrete pads and new laundry and dishwashing equipment, which staff said has reduced laundry backlogs. Staff said these upgrades will allow more outdoor time for dogs and improve day-to-day operations.
Staff emphasized community outreach and events: they ran 19 off-site events with partners such as local pet stores and the parks district, plan to participate in the regional "Furry Valentine" adoption event at the end of the month, and operate a dog-food pantry available every three months to residents who hold a current dog license.
Looking ahead, shelter staff said they will continue to build foster and volunteer capacity, expand regional collaboration with municipal shelters, and train on changes to state law referred to in the presentation as House Bill 247 ("Avery's Law"). The presenter said staff are working to fully understand and implement the statutory changes quoted in the presentation as affecting relevant sections of the Ohio Revised Code.
The board thanked shelter staff for the update; no formal action on shelter operations was taken during the meeting.
During a departmental update moved early on the agenda, a kennel presenter said the shelter employs 14 people, operates 42 kennels with a typical population of 30–35 dogs, and seeks to keep kennels a temporary placement rather than a long-term solution. "Our live release rate is a 97.5%," the presenter stated, adding that the shelter works to move long-term animals into transfer or adoption settings as quickly as possible.
Chief Dog Warden Tim Pappas provided enforcement and outcome statistics. He reported that staff seized 87 dogs in cruelty or neglect cases in 2025 and that total restitution ordered for the year was $33,660.05. Pappas described the county's enforcement workload: "We had 422 citations last year" for running-at-large, registration and tag violations; "56 dog bite investigations," 38 dangerous-dog designations and four vicious designations; and 77 cruelty investigations that resulted in 31 people being charged with a total of 296 charges. "I will say, and knock wood, I do have a 100% conviction rate on all this," Pappas said.
Shelter staff also outlined program and partnership activity. They reported 13 volunteer/foster orientations beginning in March 2025, roughly 85 orientation attendees, and 276 foster placements during the year (the presenter said this number represents placements, not necessarily new foster households). The shelter cited 26 transfer partners, including local nonprofits and regional model-adoption programs, and credited a contracted behavior trainer and volunteer groomers with improving outcomes.
Facility improvements completed late in the year include 30 outdoor kennels on concrete pads and new laundry and dishwashing equipment, which staff said has reduced laundry backlogs. Staff said these upgrades will allow more outdoor time for dogs and improve day-to-day operations.
Staff emphasized community outreach and events: they ran 19 off-site events with partners such as local pet stores and the parks district, plan to participate in the regional "Furry Valentine" adoption event at the end of the month, and operate a dog-food pantry available every three months to residents who hold a current dog license.
Looking ahead, shelter staff said they will continue to build foster and volunteer capacity, expand regional collaboration with municipal shelters, and train on changes to state law referred to in the presentation as House Bill 247 ("Avery's Law"). The presenter said staff are working to fully understand and implement the statutory changes quoted in the presentation as affecting relevant sections of the Ohio Revised Code.
The board thanked shelter staff for the update; no formal action on shelter operations was taken during the meeting.
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