Columbus Humane, known as the Capital Area Humane Society until 2017, has roots back to 1883. It runs an adoption center and a public low-cost veterinary hospital in Hilliard, and it is the lead agency for investigating animal cruelty in Franklin County. Here is how adoption, the clinic, surrender, and cruelty reporting work.
Columbus Humane is a private nonprofit, not the county dog pound. Its standout public role is law enforcement: it is the lead agency in Franklin County for investigating animal cruelty, abuse, neglect, and organized animal fighting, with an investigations team that operates every day of the year and a high conviction rate in the county's environmental court.
Stray dogs are a separate agency's job. Columbus Humane directs people who have found a stray dog to Franklin County Animal Care & Control at (614) 525-3400. It rebranded from the Capital Area Humane Society in 2017, and it also runs the Safe Haven program, which has provided free pet care for survivors of domestic violence since 2006.
Adoption fees are not posted as a fixed schedule; they vary by animal and help fund the organization's programs, so check the current fee when you meet a pet. Every adoptable animal gets a veterinary exam, and dogs, cats, rabbits, and suitable pocket pets are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up to date on the right vaccines before going home.
Adoption is walk-in with no appointment, and pets can often go home the same day; after meeting a pet in person, you can place a 24-hour hold. The adoption center in Hilliard is open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday.
The Essential Care Center is a low-cost veterinary clinic open to the public, with fixed, published pricing meant to keep pets and owners together. Spay or neuter runs $75 for a cat and $125 to $200 for a dog by weight, a cat wellness exam is $50 or $75 with FeLV and FIV testing, and a dog wellness exam is $75. End-of-life euthanasia is $150, or $300 with cremated remains returned.
Owner surrender is by appointment through the Animal Support Center at (614) 777-7387, and staff offer counseling first to look for alternatives that let you keep your pet. The organization also runs a pet food pantry.
To report animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect in Franklin County, call (614) 777-7387. The investigations team makes thousands of field visits a year.
Younger volunteers can take part from age 12 with an adult partner, and teens 16 and 17 can volunteer on their own, after training. Fostering is supported with supplies and veterinary care, and foster availability shifts with the season. Both volunteer and foster intake open and close depending on need, so check the site before applying.
The wish list calls out martingale collars and slip leads, blankets, towels, pet beds, and xylitol-free peanut butter, with Amazon and Chewy lists available. Columbus Humane holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 97 percent score, and its EIN is 31-4379492.
Walk-in adoption of dogs, cats, rabbits, and small animals in Hilliard.
Lead Franklin County agency for animal cruelty, neglect, and fighting cases.
A public low-cost vet hospital with fixed, published pricing.
$75 for a cat and $125 to $200 for a dog by weight, by appointment.
Free pet care for survivors of domestic violence since 2006.
Food assistance to help owners keep their pets at home.
Sources: Columbus Humane (columbushumane.org) adoption, clinic, cruelty, and history pages; Charity Navigator (EIN 31-4379492); IRS data via Cause IQ. Adoption fees are not published as a fixed schedule. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Columbus Humane and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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