ABOUT US
COMMITTED TO SAVING PETS SINCE 1998
Columbus Dog Connection is dedicated to improving the lives of cats and dogs in Ohio through rescue, adoption, and prevention efforts. Our mission focuses on ending pet overpopulation with high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services, providing care for homeless and unwanted animals, and offering support to the community and other animal welfare organizations.
OUR PROGRAMS
Our programs are designed to rescue, protect, and support animals in need while addressing the root causes of pet overpopulation. From adoption and medical care to community outreach, we are committed to making a lasting impact for pets across Ohio.
-
Rescue, Foster & Rehome – We rescue, foster, and find loving homes for stray and unwanted dogs and cats, with a focus on abandoned, injured, and chained animals.
-
Permanent Foster & Hospice Care – We provide lifelong care for elderly, ill, and unadoptable pets who need a safe and loving home.
-
Quasi-Cat Shelter – We offer shelter at our office and care for cats in need while working to find them permanent homes.
-
Spay/Neuter Program – We provide low-cost spay/neuter services at our Columbus clinic and through our mobile unit, “The Andy,” which travels to rural areas to combat pet overpopulation.
-
Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic – We offer affordable vaccines, testing, and prevention to help pet owners keep their animals healthy.
-
Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) Program – We support cat colony caretakers by providing spay/neuter services and resources for feral cats.
-
Food & Supplies Pantry – We collect and distribute pet food and supplies to rescues and shelters across Ohio.
-
Community Outreach & Education – We assist and promote animal welfare organizations while educating the public about pet overpopulation and responsible pet ownership.
OUR JOURNEY TO SAVING MORE DOGS & CATS
For over 25 years, we've been committed to reducing pet homelessness through prevention. Here’s how our mission has grown:
The Early Days (1998-2006)
-
Columbus Dog Connection was founded in 1998 by Mirna Bowman, Karen Skilken, and Kellie DiFrischia as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to connect homeless pets with adopters and rescues.
-
Launched Ohio’s first pet resource website to promote adoptions and help shelters.
-
Created Mingle With Our Mutts in 2002, a twice-monthly adoption event for rescues and shelters.
-
Led the Morrow County puppy mill raid, rescuing 109 animals and later co-authoring the Ohio Puppy Mill Bill.
-
Launched Habitat for Dogmanity, a volunteer project helping rural shelters with facility improvements.
Growth & Community Impact (2007-2015)
-
Hosted Woofstock (2007-2013), a fundraising event supporting our foster program.
-
Won a state award (2008) for our elevated shelter bed design, distributing 1,000+ beds to rural shelters.
-
Expanded efforts to low-cost spay/neuter services, recognizing adoption alone couldn’t solve pet overpopulation.
-
Secured funding for a mobile spay/neuter clinic (2010), opened our current facility (2011), and performed our first surgeries in July 2011.
-
Launched our low-cost vaccine clinic (2012) and played a key role in passing the Ohio Puppy Mill Bill.
-
Introduced Feline Fix (2015), helping lower-income families, colony caregivers, and trappers access spay/neuter services.
Expanding Our Reach (2016-Present)
-
Partnered with Guaus & Miaus in Guatemala, helping them establish a self-sustaining spay/neuter program with over 70,000 surgeries.
-
Celebrated 20 years (2018) and was selected as a Subaru Share the Love nonprofit partner.
-
Used COVID downtime to upgrade veterinary records and secure a PPP loan to support operations.
-
Continuing the Mission (2021-Present)
-
Expanded feral cat TNR efforts and upgraded our database to improve outreach and fundraising.
-
Celebrated 25 years (2023) with the fundraiser “25 Years of Paws and Claws for a Cause”, continuing our work in spay/neuter, rescue, TNR, and community vaccine clinics.
-
We remain committed to adapting to new challenges and making a lasting impact on Ohio’s pets and communities.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors is made up of passionate leaders dedicated to guiding our mission and making a lasting impact on animal welfare. Their expertise and commitment help us rescue, care for, and find loving homes for pets in need.
Carol
Folkerth
President
Dr. Devon
Horne
Board Member
Missy
Gorman
Board Member
Linda
Diroll
Treasurer
Dr. Kristy
Clay
Board Member
Liz
Kostelac
Board Member
Anne
Riley
Secretary
Theresa
Lapworth
Board Member
OUR AWESOME STAFF
Meet our amazing and dedicated team who work tirelessly to rescue, care for, and find loving homes for animals in need. Their passion and commitment make everything we do possible!
Mirna
Bowman
Executive Director
Jen Kulina-Lanese
Veterinary Assistant
Katrina Johnson, RVT
Assistant Director
Adelle
Wills
Office Coordinator
Melinda
Howells
Office Cat Care Coordinator
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are you a shelter? Can you take my dog or cat?
We are not a shelter. We are a foster-based, limited-intake rescue, meaning we can only take in animals when foster homes are available. While some cats stay at our office due to a lack of fosters, all of our dogs and most of our cats live in foster care.
Are you a vet clinic? Can I make an appointment for my pet?
We are not a full-service veterinary clinic. We offer low-cost spay/neuter services and a monthly low-cost vaccine clinic, but we do not provide general veterinary care. For other medical needs, please visit your regular veterinarian or check our Resources Page for low-cost vet options.
Why should I spay or neuter my pet?
Spaying and neutering helps pets live longer, healthier lives by preventing certain cancers, infections, and reducing roaming behaviors. It also reduces pet overpopulation, preventing thousands of animals from being euthanized each year due to overcrowded shelters.
Do you do TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return)?
Yes! If you need spay/neuter appointments for feral cats, email scheduling.cdc@gmail.com as we may have earlier availability than what’s listed online. For trapping tips and resources, visit our TNR Resource Page.
Are you a no-kill organization?
We meet the adoption threshold to be considered a no-kill rescue, but the term can be misleading. Open-admission shelters, which take in all animals—including those with untreatable medical or behavioral issues—are sometimes unfairly criticized. The Animal Humane Society has great resources on this topic and how we can all work together to support animal welfare.
How can I get involved?
We have many ways to help! Visit our Volunteer Page to learn about fostering, assisting at adoption events, office cleaning, pet transport, and more. We'd love to have you on our team!
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS & SPONSORS
CONTACT US
Have questions or need more information? We’re here to help! Whether you’re interested in adopting, fostering, volunteering, or our low-cost vet services, we’d love to hear from you.
PHONE: 614-471-9000
EMAIL: ColumbusDogConnectionInfo@gmail.com
ADDRESS: 2761 Johnstown Rd
Columbus, OH 43219
(near the Columbus Airport)
TAX ID: 31-1648642