Manatee County Animal Services making big changes with new chief
By CARL MARIO NUDI
The old idea of a dogcatcher snatching a stray dog roaming the streets and dragging it to the dog pound to be put down has become an out-of-date notion in Manatee County.
Today’s Manatee County Animal Services has developed into a friendly, community-oriented agency dedicated to the welfare of all the animals in their care.
And recently hired Division Chief Sarah Brown has been a driving force in making the change in the community’s attitude about her agency that is part of the Manatee County Public Safety Department
“Manatee County Animal Services has had a bad reputation in the past with the animal rescue groups and the community,” Brown said. “We had to do repair work on relationships. We had to build trust.”
Since her first day on Feb. 1, Brown has worked on repairing those community ties.
Prior to the adoption of the “No Kill” policy at animal services in 2011, local animal rescue organizations were very critical of the county animal services and have continued to hold that attitude over the past several years.
“I’ve noticed a tremendous change at animal services,” said Carol Whitmore, at-large commissioner, an animal advocate on the county commission. “We’re seeing a whole turnaround in the culture at animal services and it’s being recognized by the animal rescue groups.”
The county animal services has sustained an 89 to 90 percent save rate for fiscal year 2016, said Hans Wohlgefahrt, outreach and events specialist for the division, which means only 10 to 11 percent of the animals had to be euthanized.
But the “No Kill” policy has created another problem at the animal services facility at 305 25th St. W., north of Palmetto.
“We’re over capacity all the time because of not putting animals down,” Whitmore said.
As of last week, 161 dogs, 130 cats and five pigs were housed at the county facilities, Wohlgefahrt said.
The pigs are being held in a quarantine area of the facility and are part of a cruelty and neglect case animal services officers are working.
“We took in approximately 5,000 animals this fiscal year,” he said.
Those animals came to be in animal services care for various reasons.
Some are picked up off the streets as strays or lost pets. Others are surrendered because the pet owner no longer can care for the animal, or the animal is removed from the pet owner because of neglect, cruelty or the animal was a danger to the community.
To alleviate the over-crowding, animal services works hard to find the owners of lost pets.
“When they arrive at the facilities a picture is taken immediately and placed on the animal services lost and found website and Facebook page and shared with all of the animal rescue groups in the area,” Wohlgefahrt said. “The photos are the most important part of the system.”
Almost 650 pets were returned to their owners, he said.
Also, a vibrant adoption program has been established.
“All animals are checked medically,” Wohlgefahrt said. “We want to make sure they are healthy (before they are placed in a new home.)”
The animals also are evaluated from a behavioral standpoint so that an animal not accustomed to children would not be placed with a family, he said.
Wohlgefahrt said the staff has helped with the adoption of so many animals over the last six months as they have become more customer focused.
“They ask the right questions,” he said. “We want people to spend enough time (in the kennel areas) so they can make the right decision.
“We want to create the right match for anyone seeking to adopt an animal,” Wohlgefahrt said.
Lost animals are held for five days before being put up for adoptions.
Dog adoptions are made at the North Manatee County facility, while cats are adopted out of a building on Manatee Avenue and 10th Street West in Bradenton.
The animal rescue organizations also have been doing their part to reduce the population at animal services, providing temporary homes and sometimes finding permanent homes.
Many of the breed-specific rescue groups have taken animals of that breed.
Adoptions are near 1,000 and transfers to other organizations even higher, Wohlgefahrt said.
Foster volunteers also have been used to reduce the animal population at the facility.
Around 200 animals have been placed in foster care, Wohlgefahrt said.
“We are always looking for foster volunteers,” he said. “Just give us a call.”
With the hiring of the first on-staff veterinarian at animal services, Brown has improved efficiency.
Dr. Carmen Lucena, DVM, was hired recently as the shelter veterinarian
Having a staff veterinarian basically improves the treatment plan for the animals, Lucena said.
“Animals don’t have to be transported to a contracted veterinarian’s office,” she said. “It’s a much better use of an employee’s time”
Brown has worked to have a surgical room installed at the facility so Lucena can perform necessary animal-care procedures.
“The facilities are outdated. We’re overcapacity,” Brown said. “We need to see intake go down, and that is happening more, thanks to our partner rescue groups doing spay/neutering services.”
She also said animal services needed to focus more on pet retention, or how to get people to keep the pets in their homes.
“It’s healthy to have a pet in the home,” she said.
Brown credits much of the changes at animal services on the dedication of everyone involved in the division.
“Our staff and volunteers are one of the most passionate groups I’ve worked with,” she said.
For more information on Manatee County Animal Services, visit mymanatee.org/pets. Click on the “Volunteer” box to learn how you can help. You can follow them on Facebook by searching for Manatee County Animal Services.