The quarantine at Warren County Animal Control and Adoption Center is scheduled to be lifted the day after Easter, but shorter facility hours will begin.
“We plan to reopen April 2,” said Kim Pettrey, Animal Control director.
The information was presented to members of the county Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday. Also discussed was Pettrey’s several-week absence due to surgery and who will run the facility during her absence.
Both other employees are part-time and restricted to not more than 29 hours a week.
Animal Control officer Brandi Bouldin was in attendance.
“Brandi, you’re in charge now,” said Commissioner Michael Martin.
Bouldin shook her head no.
“Yes,” said Martin.
Pettrey interjected, “No, she’s not.”
“Let me explain what’s going to happen,” said Martin. “You’ve having surgery. If you go down there, get hurt and fall, you’re a liability to county government. Since you will get paid while you’re off, to reduce our liability to the county, you need to stay home.”
Pettrey said all she planned to do during those weeks was paperwork, but now she’s in fear of losing her job because she was instructed to return the county’s truck and her cellphone to the facility.
“OK,” said Pettrey. “I don’t want to lose my job over this because I’m not there. I’m still the director, if I have surgery or not.”
Martin stated, “You’re a liability to the county.”
“I don’t mind staying at home until I’m better. I don’t. This job means the world to me, and I don’t want it suffering. They shouldn’t be made to do my job when they don’t get paid for it.”
Pettrey is a salaried employee, which means she is on call 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
If she receives a call about a dog bite victim at 1 a.m., she’s to go pick up the dog and transport it to Animal Control.
Her staff members are hourly employees.
“All they (staff) are going to do is clean and take care of the animals,” said Martin, who says 911 dispatchers will be instructed to report those calls to Warren County Sheriff’s Department during Pettrey’s absence.
Staff will continue their current work schedules. The facility will close each weekday at 2 p.m.
