21 News has been reporting for years about how animal shelters are overrun and overwhelmed, as well as the pleas for money and donations just to help volunteers keep up.
Corey McCrae spent the day with Jason Cooke, founder of the Healthy Hearts & Paws Project on the west side of Warren. Cooke tells 21 News that the rescue, which was rated for 57 dogs, is up over 90 dogs.
"We're a volunteer shelter and our volunteers are just completely worn out and there's no sign of it stopping," said Cooke.
The rescue on Martin Luther King Boulevard, while overcrowded, still has to make room.
Cooke was out with Trumbull County's chief humane officer Wednesday, where they responded to several calls of animal left out the in hot weather. Most stops were for educational purposes, reminding owners of the affect that high temperatures can have on their dogs, and to make sure they have access to food and water.
"We go out on every call and we take every call seriously just because if some animal is out in this heat and does not have water, it does not take long," said Fabian Pike, the county's chief humane officer, adding that it only takes 15 minutes for heat exhaustion or heat stroke to set in.
This adds to the responsibilities for Cooke, who is in charge of running the volunteer operation with the more than 90 dogs in its care.
When asked how much longer he could keep this up--"Not much longer...we need to get to a point where the number of dogs leaving exceeds the number of dogs coming in," Cooke reiterated.
Another dog brought in Wednesday, only making an argument for the latter.
"We provide food, water, and housing for the dog. We administer preventative vaccines," Cooke added.
An intake process that must be done for every new dog that comes through the door. Volunteers spend hours walking dogs, cleaning them, taking them to vet appointments and shuttle dogs to training weekly.
A new building is under construction on the Healthy Hearts & Paws Project property, which will be able to accommodate more dogs and serve as a pantry for food. Cooke says in terms of dealing with the mass influx of dogs, that the extra housing is only a band-aid.
"Building more buildings isn't the answer. We've got to get spay and neuter programs started. We've got to get into the schools, educate the kids so when they grow up, they are responsible pet owners and maybe we won't be encountering these issues," Cooke mentioned.