At this time, there is only one full-time employee on staff at the Warren County Animal Control – Shelby Newman.
“I haven’t had a day off in 18 days,” said Newman to the county Health and Welfare Committee. “I worked 51 hours last week and it’s exhausting.”
Animal Control director Kim Pettrey is on medical leave.
Newman gave a brief monthly report while the committee discussed ideas for a mystery donation coming their way. Commissioner Blaine Wilcher said that although they know they’re getting approximately $30,000, the precise date they’ll receive the funds is unknown.
Asked Commissioner Deborah Evans, “Who is donating this and do we know for a fact we are getting that?”
“We know that it is in the process,” said County Executive Jimmy Haley. “I don’t know how much it is going to be or when it will be available. The attorney for the estate contacted me last week.”
Wilcher proposed using the donation to improve the area by purchasing a 14-foot by 28-foot building to be utilized as new office space for Animal Control. The building, along with other upgrades, would cost around $23,000.
“If there was an office up top, there would be less distractions so employees could sit down, do their work in the office without hearing the animals or being interrupted,” explained Wilcher.
Interjected Newman, “In order to have the office up top and the animals down at the bottom, there would have to be two employees there all the time. Right now, we can barely keep one there all the time.”
“That problem doesn’t change with or without this building,” countered Wilcher. “That problem is with personnel and we will have to address that regardless. This would only make it a better environment for whoever was there.”
As far as staffing issues, Haley suggested going to a three-day schedule with set times for drop-offs and adoptions.
“I think hiring a part-time person would also help alleviate the situation as well to help with the clerical work,” said Haley. “We have to get all the data entry and documentation up to snuff.”
