Animal shelter volunteers and workers filled the Macon County commissioners’ chamber on Feb. 11 to press the board to invest in the county’s animal services to combat the local rise in strays and surrenders.
The groundswell comes after the commissioners’ discussion in December on a Board of Health request to reallocate money from an unfilled environmental services position to be a shelter attendant, which was to help free up other staff to go on enforcement calls. At that meeting, Commissioner John Shearl shared grievances about the department and proposed looking into whether Macon County should continue to support animal services or divest it to a non-government agency. Board Chair Josh Young said the discussion would be more suited for this spring’s budget season.
Previously, in September, volunteers and workers voiced their concerns to the Board of Health over the state of Macon County Animal Services caused by a lack of funding. In November, the Board of Health presented a study about animal services and approved immediately asking the county for one animal shelter attendant while working on other future goals.
In January, the board gave Interim County Manager Warren Cabe the OK to start a feasibility study on the future of Macon County Animal Services.
Before public comment started, Cabe said that earlier in the day the county posted an advertisement for an animal shelter attendant, which was the original request made in November by the Macon County Board of Health.
Joanne Rosner said those who showed up weren’t keyboard warriors and that they were the ones cleaning up after the animals and spending their own money on supplies. Rosner said she’s paid to vaccinate 198 animals out of her pocket. Rosner thanked Shearl for meeting with her and said Macon County Animal Services needs adequate staffing.
Constance Neely said without proper animal shelter infrastructure, there would be an increase in issues. Neely said privatization would lead to profit over care, poorer animal conditions, job losses and lack of trust.
Elizabeth Short said she called animal control for two months about an abandoned dog and got nothing because no one could go out to help. Short said officers are cleaning the kennels and the staffing issues lead to shorter hours. Short said there’s a big issue in Macon County with animals being dumped and animal control officers need the power to do something about it.
Ashley Higgs, manager at the nonprofit Appalachian Animal Rescue Center, said without Macon County Animal Services, their center can’t do their jobs. Higgs said AARC doesn’t have to take in aggressive dogs and legally can’t go out to rescue or impound animals, while Animal Services does. Higgs said AARC is booked out to April for spays and neuters and Macon County has a growing number of surrenders and strays.
“These are my friends and we need them,” Higgs said of Macon County Animal Services.
Betsy Baste said she’d be OK with a nonprofit running animal services with full county support. Autumn Lucas said treating animals right is a nonpartisan issue, and she is fine with her tax dollars supporting it.
Robert Melenson has been an animal shelter volunteer for the last four years and said he’d rather see animals put down than suffer in those concrete kennels for weeks and months. Heather Johnson advocated for appropriate budget control for animal services over privatization.
On a different animal issue, Andre Garrison spoke of his concerns about a kennel being built off Iotla Church Road in his neighborhood and wanted the commissioners to investigate.
After public comment ended, Shearl asked to respond. He said he owns three rescue dogs and loves animals, then spoke on the “numerous calls” he’s gotten regarding Macon County Animal Services and what he feels is their inaction on specific issues. Shearl said he’s met with animal services workers and has high praise for them, saying they came up with the plan to hire the shelter attendant and are researching future solutions.