Davidson County Animal Shelter, could change be coming?

Commissioners discuss county animal shelter's future

By Wil Petty

The Dispatch

Published: Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 2:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 2:32 p.m.

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20141002/NEWS/310029985/0/search?p=1&tc=pg

A more in-depth, public discussion is now under way about the future of the Davidson County Animal Shelter.

County commissioners held the discussion Thursday morning due to response from citizens about how the animals are treated at the shelter.

"I have asked the county manager to put this on as a discussion," said commissioner Fred McClure. "Obviously we've had some issues, and I thought we need to bring it out to discuss."

Davidson County Manager Robert Hyatt said he would use this discussion to receive advice from the county commissioners on what direction to take when deciding under which department the animal shelter should fall.

"I feel like with our county staff, we are following your directive," Hyatt said. "If it is something that you want to move, then we can work on making that happen. I can't come back with a firm recommendation at this point and time."

Commissioners McClure and Steve Shell were the most vocal about removing the animal shelter from the sheriff's office.

McClure's ideas include hiring two employees as a way to replace the gas chamber and looking at other options surrounding counties have regarding how they handle the shelters. Sheriff David Grice has said previously about 37 percent of the animals euthanized at the shelter are gassed. The shelter takes in about 6,600 animals yearly, and about 83 percent are euthanized."If we hired two employees, they could eliminate the gassing of any animal as soon as those employees were trained," he said, referencing a conversation he had with Judy Lanier, manager of the Davidson County Animal Shelter. "I think if we are trying to do something immediate, that might be an immediate way to at least accomplish some of what the folks would like to say.McClure also said he believed the animal shelter should not be under the Davidson County Sheriff's Office because Grice doesn't want that responsi"(Grice) has said on multiple occasions that he doesn't want it, and we need somebody in charge of it that does want it," McClure saAnother option McClure brought up was to transfer control of the shelter from the county to a nonprofit. This happened in Guilford County, where the shelter is operated by the United Animal Coalition."Once we do all of that, you can work on a grant to dismantle and eliminate the gas chamber," he said.Shell said the issue has been going on so long, and it was time to move the shelter from being under the DCSO's control."With the limited resources that he's (Grice) got, the budget that he has and the other duties in this county, his recommendation five years ago was that the shelter needed to be removed out from under the sheriff's department," he said. "I agreed with him then and I agree with him now."Shell said he is tired of receiving national blame for events he has no control over."I'm not satisfied with just decreasing the number of animals that we euthanize," Shell said. "I want us to be a role model for every shelter in this country."Shell also said the number of animals euthanized in Davidson County is "totally unacceptable."Hyatt said statewide there is no specific department the animal shelter has to fall under. It is most common for the shelter to be under the health department, sheriff's office or serve as a standalone agency."I still think from an organizational standpoint, where it currently resides makes a lot of sense," he said. "Can it work as a standalone department or under one of the other departments? Sure it can."Commissioner Don Truell said while he agrees with some requests, such as eliminating the gas chamber, he believes the shelter should remain under control of the DCSO."There's only one place to put the dog pound, and that's under the sheriff's department," he said. "We got it in place now, we just have to change the way we are operating it."Hyatt said if it stayed under the sheriff's office, it would limit the influence the commissioners could have on what takes place there.Vice Chairman Todd Yates asked what sort of time line would be needed for the manager to come up with alternative ideas. Hyatt said it would take approximately one month.Commissioner Steve Jarvis said he would like to know if the Davidson County Humane Society would be interested in taking over the shelter."As far as the shelter, I would like to research that," he said. "I think they have a better handle as far as volunteers, and it appears that Forsyth County operates very well with volunteers and does a good job with the animals."Becky Everhart, president of the Davidson County Humane Society, said she thought it was a good idea for the Humane Society to be involved“We would be more than delighted to work with the county, to what degree would be the question,” she said. “We have a board that would make that decision on just how much of a role we would play in the shelteCommissioner Sam Watford said he believed working at the animal shelter is the toughest job in the count"I don't like people criticizing our shelter until they realize what it was like 12 years ago," he said. "It has really improved consideRight now, the budget for the animal shelter and animal control is combiThe board unanimously voted to continue discussion of the Davidson County Animal Shelter at its Oct. 28 meeting. No additional action regarding the shelter too

Wil Petty can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at wil.petty@the-dispatch.com. Follow Wil"If we hired two employees, they could eliminate the gassing of any animal as soon as those employees were trained," he said, referencing a conversation he had with Judy Lanier, manager of the Davidson County Animal Shelter. "I think if we are trying to do something immediate, that might be an immediate way to at least accomplish some of what the folks would like to say."

McClure also said he believed the animal shelter should not be under the Davidson County Sheriff's Office because Grice doesn't want that responsibility.

"(Grice) has said on multiple occasions that he doesn't want it, and we need somebody in charge of it that does want it," McClure said.

Another option McClure brought up was to transfer control of the shelter from the county to a nonprofit. This happened in GuilfordCounty, where the shelter is operated by the United Animal Coalition.

"Once we do all of that, you can work on a grant to dismantle and eliminate the gas chamber," he said.

Shell said the issue has been going on so long, and it was time to move the shelter from being under the DCSO's control.

"With the limited resources that he's (Grice) got, the budget that he has and the other duties in this county, his recommendation five years ago was that the shelter needed to be removed out from under the sheriff's department," he said. "I agreed with him then and I agree with him now.

Shell said he is tired of receiving national blame for events he has no control over.

"I'm not satisfied with just decreasing the number of animals that we euthanize," Shell said. "I want us to be a role model for every shelter in this country."

Shell also said the number of animals euthanized in DavidsonCounty is "totally unacceptable."

Hyatt said statewide there is no specific department the animal shelter has to fall under. It is most common for the shelter to be under the health department, sheriff's office or serve as a standalone agency.A more in-depth, public discussion is now under way about the future of the Davidson County Animal Shelter.County commissioners held the discussion Thursday morning due to response from citizens about how the animals are treated at the shelter."I have asked the county manager to put this on as a discussion," said commissioner Fred McClure. "Obviously we've had some issues, and I thought we need to bring it out to discusDavidson County Manager Robert Hyatt said he would use this discussion to receive advice from the county commissioners on what direction to take when deciding under which department the animal shelter should f"I feel like with our county staff, we are following your directive," Hyatt said. "If it is something that you want to move, then we can work on making that happen. I can't come back with a firm recommendation at this point and time."Commissioners McClure and Steve Shell were the most vocal about removing the animal shelter from the sheriff's office.McClure's ideas include hiring two employees as a way to replace the gas chamber and looking at other options surrounding counties have regarding how they handle the shelters. Sheriff David Grice has said previously about 37 percent of the animals euthanized at the shelter are gassed. The shelter takes in about 6,600 animals yearly, and about 83 percent are euthanized."If we hired two employees, they could eliminate the gassing of any animal as soon as those employees were trained," he said, referencing a conversation he had with Judy Lanier, manager of the Davidson County Animal Shelter. "I think if we are trying to do something immediate, that might be an immediate way to at least accomplish some of what the folks would like to say."McClure also said he believed the animal shelter should not be under the Davidson County Sheriff's Office because Grice doesn't want that responsibility."(Grice) has said on multiple occasions that he doesn't want it, and we need somebody in charge of it that does want it," McClure said.Another option McClure brought up was to transfer control of the shelter from the county to a nonprofit. This happened in Guilford County, where the shelter is operated by the United Animal Coalition."Once we do all of that, you can work on a grant to dismantle and eliminate the gas chamber," he said.Shell said the issue has been going on so long, and it was time to move the shelter from being under the DCSO's control."With the limited resources that he's (Grice) got, the budget that he has and the other duties in this county, his recommendation five years ago was that the shelter needed to be removed out from under the sheriff's department," he said. "I agreed with him then and I agree with him now."Shell said he is tired of receiving national blame for events he has no control ove"I'm not satisfied with just decreasing the number of animals that we euthanize," Shell said. "I want us to be a role model for every shelter in this country.

Shell also said the number of animals euthanized in Davidson County is "totally unacceptaHyatt said statewide there is no specific department the animal shelter has to fall under. It is most common for the shelter to be under the health department, sheriff's office or serve as a standalone age"I still think from an organizational standpoint, where it currently resides makes a lot of sense," he said. "Can it work as a standalone department or under one of the other departments? Sure it can."

Commissioner Don Truell said while he agrees with some requests, such as eliminating the gas chamber, he believes the shelter should remain under control of the DCSO.

"There's only one place to put the dog pound, and that's under the sheriff's department," he said. "We got it in place now, we just have to change the way we are operating it."

Hyatt said if it stayed under the sheriff's office, it would limit the influence the commissioners could have on what takes place there.

Vice Chairman Todd Yates asked what sort of time line would be needed for the manager to come up with alternative ideas. Hyatt said it would take approximately one month.

Commissioner Steve Jarvis said he would like to know if the Davidson County Humane Society would be interested in taking over the shelter.

"As far as the shelter, I would like to research that," he said. "I think they have a better handle as far as volunteers, and it appears that Forsyth Countyoperates very well with volunteers and does a good job with the animals."

Becky Everhart, president of the Davidson County Humane Society, said she thought it was a good idea for the Humane Society to be involved.

“We would be more than delighted to work with the county, to what degree would be the question,” she said. “We have a board that would make that decision on just how much of a role we would play in the shelter.”

Commissioner Sam Watford said he believed working at the animal shelter is the toughest job in the county.

"I don't like people criticizing our shelter until they realize what it was like 12 years ago," he said. "It has really improved considerably."

Right now, the budget for the animal shelter and animal control is combined.

The board unanimously voted to continue discussion of the Davidson County Animal Shelter at its Oct. 28 meeting. No additional action regarding the shelter took place.

Wil Petty can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at wil.petty@the-dispatch.com. Follow Wil on Twitter: @WilPetty