Local Humane Society could be forced to close - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

A local Humane Society could be forced to close it's doors in a matter of months. The Humane Society of Sandusky County is having to dig into its savings just to keep the doors open right now, and without help from the community the cash will run out soon.

In addition to the daily care for all the dogs and cats at the shelter, the Humane Society is also caring for a number of larger animals, like horses, donkeys and cattle that have been seized in cruelty cases. One of them is Henry, a miniature donkey, who has serious injuries after being dragged behind a tractor last week. Like most of the animals who have been seized he needs a lot of extra care.

The President of the Board at the Humane Society says the story of Henry the donkey is bringing new attention, and more importantly cash donations to the Humane Society, "Sometimes bigger cases that get a lot of media attention are blessings in disguise, because we get donations we usually wouldn't to help keep our doors open."

We first told you on Monday what Henry went through after his owner tied him behind a tractor to move him from one barn to another. Cruelty investigator Kelly Askins says the barns are about two miles apart, "She tied two donkeys to the back of the tractor and was going to lead them home, somehow he went down and hit his head on a rock, she stopped the tractor and got him up. They got going again, but he went down again so she just dragged him all the way home. "

More than a dozen other animals were also seized from his owner and McDowell says it's cases like this that put a big strain on the small shelter's budget, "We're hoping we can last through the end of 2012, but beyond that I don't see how we can continue to make payroll, pay the vet bills and maintain the building. Something big has to happen or there is no way we can do it."

McDowell is a volunteer and while she spends a lot of her own time and money to help save these animals, it's getting more difficult to make ends meet, "I have nights where I don't sleep when these things happen. I probably put in about 30 hours a week of my own time and I haven't had a weekend off from raising money yet this summer. I take it very personally

McDowell says it's the many success stories here that keep the staff and volunteers committed to the cause, "I think that in the last 10 years 3-4 thousand animals have passed through these doors and they've al been spayed or neutered and have found good homes so it has been a worthwhile effort and I certainly would like to see it carry on."

Henry's owner, 78 year old Virginia Secrist, is facing 14 counts of animal cruelty. She is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges within the next two weeks.

The Secrist case is not the only big cruelty case the Humane Society is dealing with right now. They're caring for dozens of dogs from a seizure about a year ago and say that so far they have not received a dime for their care because the case is still in court.

Keep in mind that even though the cruelty cases like Henry's have brought in new donations, it is still not enough to save the shelter. Shelter leaders say they would appreciate donations of time and money.