Nebraska Humane Society

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 2022, nhs received 88,499 incoming calls resulting in animal control officers being dispatched 28,357 times during the year. These calls included reports of stray, injured or dead animals, and problems with wildlife. There were 5,910 investigations of animal cruelty, barking, bites, and abandonments. Additionally, 647 citations were written. In 2022, 2,511 lost pets were returned to owners, 104 received a free ride home. Animal licensing included - dog licenses issued: 15,968 intact, 93,462 altered. Cat licenses issued: 734 intact, 41,591 altered. Potentially dangerous dogs - 157, dangerous dogs - 13, mini pig - 11. Licenses for animals were provided at no charge to 4,753 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 263 service dogs and 22 companion support pets.

Community outreach - nhs provides a variety of services for our community. The low cost spay/neuter center completed 1,173 surgeries, 805 calls to the behavior helpline were answered, and pet care tips were aired on local television and radio shows. More than 2,648 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 579 children in 2022. 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.)

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 2022 include: 4,613 spay/neuter procedures; 548 other surgeries (hips, knees, amputations, eyes, and dentals) 6,024 diagnostic tests (heartworm, feline leukemia, x-rays, blood tests, skin scrapes) and 5,515 dogs and cats were microchipped. Additionally, all animals are vaccinated before they are placed for adoption.during 2022, a total of 7,789 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 2022, 1,585 animals not yet ready for adoption were cared for in 275 foster care homes by trained volunteers.