Jessica Farren is Butler County’s humane officer. In addition to her experience working in animal shelters, she has 40 hours of specialized training that qualifies her to work on animal neglect and cruelty cases. Submitted photo

Diana Joy Waller and two other advocates began raising money for abused, neglected and stray animals in 2017 after receiving word about a little dog who had frozen to death in his crate.

Since then, more help has come through. The county has hired a humane officer, a role now filled by Officer Jessica Farren, and she has since investigated more than 100 abuse and neglect cases across the county.

Between 2002 and 2017, Butler County had no humane officer at all.

Farren’s role is an entirely volunteer one. She also works a full-time job at a veterinary hospital and raises a family in addition to her animal rescue work. With her specialized training, training most police don’t possess, she serves the whole county in a way no one else can.

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