Pets Without Parents, founded in June of 2001, is a non-profit, no-kill, all-breed shelter for dogs and cats. Our mission is to place every pet that enters our shelter into a loving, permanent home; to motivate our local community to support our shelter, its no-kill mission, and spay-neuter efforts through donation, volunteer, and adoption opportunities...until every pet goes home.

We strive to create a community that nurtures and respects companion animals, and to someday see that every pet is loved. In order to create such a community, Pets Without Parents functions as a pet adoption shelter, carefully placing pets into forever homes.  Additionally, we do everything in our power to reduce the pet overpopulation.  Every pet is spayed or neutered before going to his or her new home. We can only accomplish our mission by educating the community and sharing our beliefs that we are creating a better world for these wonderful animals.

In 2009, we found homes for 313 cats and 345 dogs (total of 658 adoptions), many of which came from kill shelters. This is a 13% increase from 2008!!!

Pets Without Parents is committed to:

• providing a safe haven for the homeless cats and dogs within our shelter and through our foster care program;
• maintaining a high level of sanitation within the shelter for the health of our pets, our staff, our volunteers and prospective adopters;
• providing high quality medical care to our pets including a regulated spay and neuter program;
• relieving high kill shelters, hoarders and backyard breeders of an over abundance of cats and dogs;
• actively making our pets accessible to prospective adopters through internet exposure (including www.petfinder.com), email campaigns to our supporters and past adopters, extended daily operating hours, and a variety of equally effective marketing efforts;
• meticulously screening prospective adopters and ensuring that the safety and well being of the cat or dog is the highest priority;
• providing an abundance of volunteer opportunities where our community members and community service program members can contribute in the caring of shelter pets, and participate in off site adoption events and fundraisers;
• providing financial transparency in the distribution of adoption fees and donations that support our operational expenses; and
• remaining true to our "no-kill" policy.

Pets Without Parents is located at 629 Oakland Park Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. We are the quaint brown house next to the former Hostess Outlet. We open every day at noon. We close at 9:00 PM Monday through Friday, and at 8:00 PM Saturday and Sunday.

Co-Founder and Director Amy Klavinger

Co-Founder Paige Alexander (picture not available)

Volunteer Coordinator Meg Long