Animal officer will offer oversight

Humane Society and county officer can work together in effort to control and find homes for animals.
By Chris Sikich


NOBLESVILLE -- After seeing animal-control costs rise to nearly a half-million dollars annually, the County Council wants to keep an eye on how the money is being used.

Some of those concerns exist because the Humane Society for Hamilton County, which receives $293,000 annually to run the new $2.3 million animal shelter, has been through three executive directors since 2003 and has gone through internal struggles.
"We are sort of in the animal business together," Council President Brad Beaver said of the nonprofit organization and the county. "We have to control dangerous animals, and the humane society wants to save and adopt animals."

In total, the county will pay $476,974 this year between animal control and the humane society. Beaver said the county needs to have an employee involved to help build accountability into the system when that much money is being spent.
"When they turn over their leadership several times in a few years and seem to have internal struggles, it is concerning," Beaver said.

Tom Rogers, 55, Carmel, started as the county's first full-time animal-control officer Jan. 1. Rogers has been doing the job part time for seven years in addition to his full-time duties as a juvenile corrections officer. He's left the latter job after eight years.




"Now we have our man on the spot," Beaver said.
Animal-control officers are responsible for taking stray animals to the shelter and making sure animals are up-to-date on shots. They also are responsible for dealing with dangerous animals, neglectful pet owners and animal-cruelty cases.
The council asked Rogers to make sure operations are running smoothly at the animal shelter. Rogers told councilors the humane society is well led by Executive Director Rebecca Stevens.

After being hired in May 2005, Stevens has helped the nonprofit organization emerge through its struggles and guided it through the move to a new building.
After being laid off from the humane society in November 2003, former public relations and community outreach coordinator Amy Van Ostrand wrote a letter listing problems she saw within the organization. She leveled serious charges of mismanagement at the shelter that led to the departures of two directors and several other changes.

"Can I understand their concerns?" asked Stevens of the council. "Sure, the humane society has been through a lot. All I can say is actions speak louder than words, and we've proven that through the last two years."

Stevens said 3,177 animals came to the shelter in 2006, and 89.4 percent were placed in homes. That's above the national average of 25 percent, she said. She also noted the humane society serves twice as many animals as in 2003 and still receives the same $293,000 from the county.

Rogers said the animal-control officer position has been needed for some time. Rogers noted many of the county's cities and towns have their own animal-control officers. He will be responsible only for areas outside city and town limits.

Reference:indystar