Nebraska Humane Society

Programs: 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 2017, nhs received 102,492 incoming calls resulting in animal control officers being dispatched 34,732 times during the year. These calls included reports of stray, injured or dead animals, and problems with wildlife. There were 8,308 investigations of animal cruelty, barking, bites and abandonments. Additionally, 818 citations were written. In 2017, 2,847 lost pets were returned to owners, 231 received a free ride home. Animal licensing included - dog licenses issued: 12,869 intact, 96,245 altered. Cat licenses issued: 412 intact, 42,529 altered. Potentially dangerous dogs - 105, dangerous dogs - 10, mini pig - 27. Licenses for animals were provided at no charge to 3,337 companion animals for senior citizens age 65 and older residing in bellevue, papillion, springfield, lavista, unincorporated sarpy county and waterloo. No charge licenses were also provided to 172 service dogs and 75 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. The majority of cats and dogs who enter the shelter also need to be treated for fleas and/or ticks. Shelter medical services performed for 2017 include: 6,414 spay/neuter procedures; 1,549 other surgeries (hips, knees, amputations, eyes and dentals) 19,339 diagnostic tests (heartworm, feline leukemia, x-rays, blood tests, skin scrapes) and 7,496 dogs and cats were microchipped. Additionally, all animals are vaccinated before they are placed for adoption. During 2017, a total of 11,097 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 2017, 2,068 animals not yet ready for adoption were cared for in 241 foster care homes by trained volunteers.

community outreach - nhs provides a variety of services for our community. The low cost spay/neuter center completed 6,136 surgeries, 3,197 calls to the behavior helpline were answered, and pet care tips were aired on local television and radio shows. More than 10,000 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 496 children in 2017. 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. )