Animal Control Officer speaks out on shelter
LOUISA, Ky. — Lawrence County officials have cut ties with the local Humane Society’s Open Arms Animal Shelter and have opened a county shelter now under completion.
Directors of the Humane Society issued a statement Monday evening which was re-posted on TheLevisaLazer.com. Humane Society director, Leonika Allen said the Society has cut ties with the county and will not receive it’s monthly $1,800 support check.
Judge/Executive Phillip L. Carter has refused to issue a statement to The Lazer after several attempts. He said TheLevisaLazer.com is “not a legitimate newspaper” but he did not say why.
Yesterday, Animal Control Officer Jess Perry posted on the Lawrence County Animal Shelter FB site and said the statement issued by the directors is “false” and pointed out her version of what is going on.
She has not returned a phone call for a statement for The Lazer but we will post her comments as soon as we receive them.
Open Arms Animal Shelter has been the county shelter for 29 years before the recent disagreement.
Here is what she said:
“…In regards to the Lawrence County Humane Society’s post about the discontinued partnership between the County and their organization. I nor the Lawrence County Judge Executive had zero ill intentions towards the local shelter here but we could not continue to leave animals with no place to go. I have not used Open Arms/Lawrence County Humane Society shelter since March 2023. However, the shelter still received the county’s monthly donation until they decided to no longer provide services. The Lawrence County Judge Executive and I wish them the best and respect their decision.”
“We were forced to get a shelter because there was never room at their shelter and had no place to take them. Only open limited hours and had been taking other county animals.”
The LCJE and LCAC have decided to use the county’s prior voting building to house animals that I pick up.
I receive calls daily about stray animals needing to have a place to go so the decision was made to pick them up, get them to the local Vet for assessment and treatment (if necessary) and hold them at the Poorhouse location until adoptions can be held. The fees from the adoptions help fund the shelter costs.
The building is still being worked on but I feel is safe place for the animals. They are happy, healthy and ready to find loving homes.
The three hounds in the post, ACO had picked up 02/27/23 and on 03/13/23 I was finally contacted and told I could bring the animals in but only three. I took them on 03/14/23.
I took a cat to the shelter, which they sent to PetSmart to be adopted, on March 9th. On March 16th, ACO contacted the shelter regarding an injured boxer and the shelter agreed to take the boxer ACO was not contacted again to bring in animals (aside from cats which I didn’t have any who was deemed “adoptable”) until 11 days before the Fiscal Court meeting on April 7th. Just a short time before time for them to pick up their check.
ACO also took in a female hound with 8 puppies which the staff at Open Arms refused to open the gate and refused the animals, knowing they had room for the puppies, so their statement of the ACO turning down citizens is false.
It was never stated that our building is full and animals can’t be brought in, but I have had to tell people I would have to put them on a list to bring into the shelter once I was told the room was available to house them.
I was having to house these animals at my personal residence due to the situation with the shelter never having room for the animals. The building was being set up as a temporary holding facility. I and the LCJE did have meetings to come to an agreement for both side to work with one another. It was agreed upon that the shelter would take the animals from me and continue to receive the monthly donation. Also, it was stated that the shelter would need to figure out how to run their business and an offer was extended to the shelter to let the county assume control of it and apply for grants that local government are eligible for to help fund the shelter. That proposal was refused.
The shelter has failed to mention that on several occasions Mr. Carter has personally donated money to pay shelter bills, he has sponsored car shows to raise money for them, asked for a quote on their septic problem so he could take care of it but was never given the information, in his first term as LCJE a vehicle was donated, he has sent the road dept. to plow snow on their roads and provide free gravel.
Regarding adoptions, it has been stated by several board members that the shelter would not adopt dogs out locally. The shelter withheld adoptions to local citizens while having no problem asking for and taking local donations. That is not fair to the citizens of Lawrence County.”
Sounds to me like the jig’s up! The judge has cut off the pocket-padding for the shelter employees and is actually going to take care of the stray animal problem in the county. I’m glad to see our tax $ being used appropriately. If you have to beg for donations of animal food, cleaning supplies and money to fund it with, then, obviously, it’s not being properly managed. If adoption fees plus $1,800/month isn’t enough to operate on, then it’s time to lock the doors. Business 101- it must be able to sustain and support itself without outside help or it will fail.
This is a topic which is close to my heart… Cheers! Exactly where are your contact details though? https://slavica.indiana.edu/node/162 – https://slavica.indiana.edu/node/162
Jess is an awesome ACO. You can easily notice that she loves animals. Keep up the good work Jess and also Phil Carter.
For sure.
She does care deeply for animals. It would be difficult to find a better ACO.
The reason Phil said you are not a legitimate newspaper is because you are not. Copying and pasting peoples Facebook posts is not journalism. No one wants to give you a statement because you always misquote anyone who does.
Thanks for your opinion but I wish you wouldn’t hide behind a fake email address to give it. Legitimate or not, here you are!
I just read your so-called newspaper when I need a good laugh. Thank You
Burn
???
I know I have called animal control about 5 months ago about a stray dog where I live. I made several calls, my name and address and phone number and asked for a call back each time to which no one called me back or came to inquire about the dog. So, not everyone is perfect with their job Jess. Every one needs to work together for the sake of the animals.
Oh, Jessica is for sure not perfect.
I fail to see how the ACO not personally accommodating you has anything to do with the animal shelter’s inability to receive all of the County’s animals.
Jessica stated that the agreement between the county and the shelter was not working for the best. Jessica and Judge Carter seems to want to split amicably.