Rescue Village is a limited admission, unlimited stay shelter which means we do not euthanize (humanely put to sleep) any animal for space or time constraints. Adoptable animals remain in our shelter until a home is found or unless their health or temperament dramatically changes. Animals surrendered to our facility are evaluated based on their health and temperament. There are some circumstances where animals cannot be placed for adoption such as when animals show signs of highly aggressive or unsociable behavior or when a veterinarian determines that an animal’s physical health greatly impairs their quality of life in an untreatable way. Every animal is treated with dignity and respect and our staff works tirelessly in each situation to achieve the best outcome possible.

Yes. Did you know that it costs more than $3,000 a day to operate Rescue Village? Every year over 2,000 animals come through our doors. All shelter animals are spayed or neutered and vaccinated before adoption. We also offer low-cost spay/neuter services for stray and feral cats; owned dogs and cats through our partnership with PetFix and our Fix it in the Farmland Program.  Our Humane Education programs and camps involve over 5,000 children and adults. We provide Geauga County with its only certified and court-appointed Humane Agent to enforce animal protection laws. It takes a staff of more than 30 people and 400 volunteers to ensure that Rescue Village is a shelter that YOU can be proud of and one that provides animals the quality of care that they need and deserve.

Staff and volunteers begin arriving at 7:30 am every day. Cleaning the dog kennels, cat cages, barn, and public areas takes about five hours a day. Keeping the shelter clean is a key part of keeping the animals healthy. We also have a very sophisticated air exchange system that helps minimize odors and, more importantly, helps to prevent disease.

Geauga Humane Society and Rescue Village are one in the same. In 2001 GHS built a state-of-the-art facility on Chillicothe Road in Russell Township, Ohio and called it Rescue Village. We’ve been providing excellent care for animals ever since. In 2018, Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village became known as Rescue Village Humane so that we could help animals and people far beyond Geauga County.

When it comes to animal adoptions and animal welfare services, we are a resource for the entire northeast Ohio region. From holding children’s camps to providing animal behavior hotlines, from helping people get their pets spayed and neutered to investigating complaints about animal cruelty and neglect in Geauga County, from taking in animals from owners who can no longer keep their pets to speaking out about animal-related legislation—Rescue Village is a leader in animal welfare.