Humane Society to reopen this summer
The Humane Society of Putnam County (HSPC) has reached a partnership agreement with Putnam County to fund and operate an animal shelter.
The Putnam County Board of Commissioners signed an agreement with the HSPC on March 17, establishing a joint operation between both entities that will allow the HSPC to reopen its doors this summer.
The partnership agreement will hold for one year and follows the shelter's three-year long hiatus after closing its doors in September 2011 due to financial setbacks.
According to the agreement, the county is responsible for the "staffing and maintenance of the shelter, ensuring that the basic needs of the animals are met and that they reside in a clean and sanitary environment."
The HSPC is responsible for ensuring the animals' "health and social needs" and will work to find homes for adoptable animals.
"This partnership means that the animal shelter will unlock its doors to take in and care, in a humane manner, for those animals that have been found, abused or that the owner can no longer care for," Sandra Grimes, president of the HSPC Board of Directors, said recently.
"Equally important," she added, "is that Putnam County will have deputized animal control officers to respond to the animal-related calls that have
dramatically increased since the animal shelter closed in September 2011."
The shelter will be led by two individuals -- an animal control director, deputized and appointed by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, and a veterinary technician, appointed by the HSPC Board.
Both appointments must be approved by the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board, a team consisting of representatives from various communities within the county, the HSPC and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.
The animal control director is expected to be hired in early June with the veterinary technician to be hired within three weeks following the director's appointment.
Fiscal responsibility and shelter income will be distributed between both parties, while the City of Greencastle and other towns in Putnam County may also contribute.
The partnership agreement is binding one year from the signature date, and will be re-evaluated at the end of the term.
Individuals interested in assisting with the reopening of the shelter are encouraged to contact HSPC volunteer coordinator Rebecca Grivas at rebeccahspc@gmail.com or call Rescued Treasures at 653-7174.