Frequently Asked Questions

Is Riverview Animal Protective League (RAPL) a government agency?

No, we are a 501c3 nonprofit agency that is not funded or controlled by any government agency or national organization.

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How is RAPL Funded?

Our primary source of funding is through donations made by people who recognize the importance of the services we provide. Contributions from individuals, corporate support, and bequests help keep our doors open. 

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How will my donation be used?

Tax-deductible contributions to our agency help us pay for our vaccines, medical supplies, caretakers to take care of the animals on a daily basis, and to keep the lights on every day. Your donation enables us to assist animals throughout the county, to find homes for animals, to prosecute animal offenders, and to educate our community on the proper care of animals.

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Does RAPL work with local rescue groups?

Yes. We are establishing relationships with local breed placement and rescue organizations and are always interested in expanding our cooperative efforts in this area. 

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Is RAPL a ‘No-Kill’ shelter?

RAPL is an unlimited stay humane society that accepts animals-in-need, regardless of their health, temperament, age, or condition. Healthy, friendly animals and animals with illnesses and injuries who can be humanely treated will stay in our care for as long as it takes to find them a new home. We do not have prescribed time limits and we do not euthanize healthy, friendly animals, or animals who we can treat, to make space for new animals. 

However, animals suffering from illnesses or injuries that we can’t treat, some animals with infectious diseases, or animals who display aggressive behavior and are unsafe to rehome may be euthanized. We do not use the ‘no-kill’ terminology as we’ve found many people define it differently, to include never euthanizing any animal regardless of their suffering, health, or aggression.

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Humane Officer or Dog Warden?

The Humane Officer Protects Companion Animals from People

Humane Officers are employees of a Humane Society, usually a private, non­profit, and independent organization. The Humane Society is not controlled by any national organization, but is instead governed by a local Board of Directors and is supported by donations from private citizens, businesses, grants, and fees from services provided.

Humane Officers are required to complete certification training and are sworn in by a county probate judge. These officers respond to situations involving neglected, abused, mistreated, and injured animals. The Humane Officers are trained to enforce state animal cruelty laws under Ohio Revised Code 1717. - 1717.18

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Call the Humane Society to report:

• Animal abuse or neglect

• Animals living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions

• Abandoned animals that are confined to a premise

• Injured and sick cats

• Hoarding situations

• When caregivers for an animal are arrested or taken to the hospital and no family is available to care for them

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The Dog Warden Protects People from Animals

Dog Wardens are employed by the county and are responsible for picking up stray dogs, enforcing dog laws, including licensing, handling claims on dog damage to livestock, and many other dog-related complaints.

Dog Wardens can be funded through fees received from dog license sales and other fines and fees. Dog Wardens work with stray dogs and with dogs that are unwanted by their owners. In the state of Ohio, Dog Wardens are not required to handle cats.

Call the Dog Warden to report:

• Stray dogs

• Dog licensing issues

• Destruction by at-large dogs

• Aggressive animal concerns

• Nuisance issues

• Dog bites

• Injured stray dogs

IRS  Form 990  

Located below is the most recent 990 form.  Form 990 is a United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form that provides the public with information about a nonprofit organization. To view prior year forms, please clink on the link below and search for Riverview Animal Protective League or our EIN 39-2091689