Sumter County is beefing up its animal control staff before construction begins in February on an addition to the animal services building.
Commissioners on Tuesday approved an amendment that adds two animal control officers and converts one animal control supervisor position to another officer. The additional officers allow the expansion of Sunday and evening hours.
Animal control officers will work from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays, as well as from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on other days. Afterhours response will be available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Two animal control officers will be assigned to assist with veterinary care, intake, adoptions and coordination with rescue agencies. The other officer will assist in rescuing stray animals and other field duties.
The number of employees working in the kennel will be reduced from four to three, which will offset some funds needed for the afterhours response. Wednesdays will be double-staffed to provide for training and case follow-up.
A block addition to the county’s wooden animal services building will add a laundry room, medical treatment and euthanasia room and a food storage building. Some project funding came from a fundraising campaign earlier this year.
County Administrator Bradley Arnold said last month that the building addition and staffing changes will make it easier for owners to reclaim their lost pets and encourage adoptions, which could reduce the number of euthanized animals.
The staffing additions and building expansion are the latest efforts to improve the county’s animal services. Several years ago, the county entered a partnership with the Sumter County Humane Society to increase adoptions.
Another program allows animal services officers to trap feral cats so they can be neutered, vaccinated and returned to their neighborhoods.
More than three years ago, members of Lost Pets of The Villages began attending county meetings, demanding a no-kill shelter. Commissioners refused that request but set a goal of euthanizing no more than 10 percent of the animals received, which is the same level as no-kill shelters.
