Introducing Project Shelterlight – A Collective Voice for Shelter Reform

Formal Introduction for County & Shelter Leadership

Our Mission

Project Shelterlight exists to advocate for better shelter conditions for dogs and greater operational accountability in government-run and contracted open-intake shelters. We work to strengthen ordinances, improve shelter policies, and support community leaders in creating meaningful, lasting change.

We aim to help establish a clear, measurable, and community-accepted standard of care—one built on transparency, practical policy, and a shared sense of responsibility.

To County and Shelter Leadership:

We are Project Shelterlight—an independent, growing collective guided by shared values and lived experience, committed to transparency, accountability, and meaningful dialogue around canine care in public and contracted animal shelters across Ohio.

This initiative began with firsthand experience inside the sheltering system and has since expanded into a collective of concerned citizens, volunteers, and advocates who speak with clarity, compassion, and—when needed—anonymity. That need for anonymity exists not to deflect accountability, but to keep focus on the issues, protect individuals from retaliation, and preserve the ability to speak openly about what others may not feel safe to express.

We’re reaching out to introduce this effort and to acknowledge the essential role county and shelter leadership play in shaping the care provided to animals in public custody. These responsibilities deserve not just attention, but leadership. We hope that, together, we can help build a level of care that makes the county—and those who serve it—proud.

We want to walk through these kennels alongside you, not with shame or defensiveness, but with a sense of shared pride in how we treat the lives entrusted to our care.

A Realistic and Honest View

We understand how complex and emotionally demanding it is to manage an open-intake shelter within the limits of available resources. Some of us have felt that weight firsthand, seeing dedicated people try to do their best under incredibly difficult conditions.

We recognize that the burden of care often falls on under-resourced staff and nonprofit partners stretched thin by donations and volunteer availability. Our collective aims to offer a perspective shaped by experience—one grounded in compassion, humility, and a desire to support more balanced, clearly defined partnerships where responsibility and standards are realistic, consistent, and sustainable.

We hope to contribute ideas, ask hard but fair questions, and be part of a conversation that honors the difficulty of this work while looking for ways to improve outcomes—for the animals and for the people working to help them.

Transparency & Confidentiality Statement

This message is also published as part of our commitment to public transparency. We believe that communication between community advocates and public agencies should be respectful, accessible, and open to review.

At the same time, we fully respect the importance of confidentiality. On sensitive or critical issues, we will always seek to initiate private communication first, giving county and shelter leadership a respectful opportunity to review concerns and respond before any broader public discussion or formal escalation.

We also recognize and respect the importance of confidentiality in shelter operations. Any information shared by Project Shelterlight is done so in good faith and in compliance with any applicable confidentiality, non-disclosure, or volunteer agreements previously signed by our members. Our purpose is not to reveal sensitive internal matters, but to promote thoughtful discussion and systemic improvement grounded in public responsibility.

Our goal is not exposure for its own sake, but meaningful, solutions-driven dialogue that reflects the urgency and complexity of this work.

A Note on Purpose

At the core of this effort is a belief in two fundamental responsibilities: that every dog in our care deserves humane treatment, and that our communities deserve to be kept safe. This means supporting the people, staff, and volunteers who do the work, and ensuring that each dog leaving a shelter has been thoughtfully evaluated by qualified professionals and responsibly placed.

We believe meeting these responsibilities with compassion and accountability is possible.

Thank you for your time and your continued service. We hope this begins a thoughtful, ongoing conversation grounded in shared goals and a commitment to progress.

If anyone on your team is open to further dialogue or collaboration, we welcome the opportunity to listen, learn, and contribute.

With respect,
Project Shelterlight
On behalf of a growing collective of concerned voices
📧 projectshelterlight@protonmail.com
🌐 www.projectshelterlight.org