The Cleveland Animal Protective League

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; these appointments must be approved by the cuyahoga county probate court. The apl does not receive public funding for this program; it is funded solely by donations. In 2024, the humane investigations team opened 2,106 new investigations of suspected animal abuse and either impounded or rescued 1,070 animals. The apl's humane society agents also seek justice for animal victims by working with prosecutors to secure convictions for those charged with animal cruelty **************** (see schedule o for continuation) ******************* ...or neglect. Under ohio law, humane agents are mandated reporters for child and elder abuse and neglect. The expenses shared in this section reflect the core cost of operating the humane investigations program and do not include the cost of caring for cruelty victims, which can range from basic daily care to extensive, sometimes complex, veterinary care to heal both their bodies and spirits and save their lives.

Shelter veterinary services*: the apl's veterinary clinic provides spay/neuter, medical, and other surgical services for animals admitted to the shelter for rehoming. All cats, dogs, and rabbits are sterilized prior to adoption. Through donations to the second chance program, animals surrendered to the apl with treatable injuries or illnesses receive the medical and/or surgical care needed for a healthy life. Sometimes, this care is extensive and complex. In 2024, 4,634 shelter animals were sterilized, and 4,215 shelter animals received 10,653 diagnostic tests, treatments, procedures, and/or surgeries.

Animal welfare clinic (awc)*: the apl's awc provides spay/neuter services for community cats through trap-neuter-return (tnr) and sterilization services for adoptable animals from other shelters and rescue groups. In 2024, 4,202 community cats were sterilized through the tnr program, and 2,163 adoptable animals from partner shelters and rescue groups were sterilized.

Community outreach*: through project care (community animal retention effort), the apl helps income-qualified pet owners in cleveland access the care and resources they need and want for their pets. Examples include pet food, grooming, vaccinations, wellness care, and crisis boarding for owners facing housing insecurity or fleeing domestic violence. In 2024, project care assisted more than 3,697 pets and distributed over 17 tons of pet food to families in need.

Community pet clinic (cpc): the apl believes in preserving the human-animal bond and that pet owners should not be forced to give up their pets because they cannot afford veterinary care. In 2022, the apl opened its community pet clinic (cpc) to provide affordable veterinary care to pet owners who have been unable to afford care at private clinics or at all. The cpc currently serves pets owned by cleveland and east cleveland residents who are on financial assistance or demonstrate financial hardship. It also serves cuyahoga county residents living in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, public housing, hotels, or motels, individuals referred by private veterinary clinics due to inability to pay, and those referred by social service agencies. Additionally, the cpc serves cleveland apl adopters and residents living in the 44113 zip code. In 2024, the cpc helped 4,390 animals, performed 1,025 spay/neuter surgeries, dentals, and other surgeries, conducted 2,223 diagnostic tests, administered 5,076 vaccines, and provided humane euthanasia services to 386 animals at their owners' request.