Forums field calls for improvements in Pitt County Animal Services

Residents at sessions seeking feedback on Pitt County Animal Services said an experienced, engaging director is needed to transform spiraling operations at the department and the county’s shelter.

The Pitt County Animal Services Advisory Board held two meetings last week to gather “suggested expectations” for a new director and input on services and programs needed within the department and the county animal shelter. More than 60 people attended sessions held Aug. 20 and Thursday.

“There were excellent ideas from the public about things we can do to enhance animal services as well as the idea that this is a massive priority for citizens in the county,” said Charlotte-Anne Alexander, chairwoman of the advisory board. “We want to meet their expectations but also really focus on animal welfare in a meaningful way.”

The effort comes after the closure in May of Spay Today, a private, nonprofit organization that provided low-cost spay/neuter services for residents and the shelter. It also follows the July resignation of director Chad Singleton, who was later arrested on fraud charges related to securing equipment for a volunteer fire department.

A number of speakers urged the advisory board and county officials to offer vouchers to help pet owners pay for spay/neuter services at local veterinary clinics.

Jaimie Markham of Farmville cares for feral and community cats and has successfully trapped, neutered and released 282 cats. She’s been successful because the Town of Farmville has provided funding for her work.

Markham said that is why a voucher program is needed to help pay for fixing feral and community cats, especially since Spay Today is closed.

Cindy Dixon, who cares for 53 feral cats, said the loss of Spay Today has been devastating. She currently has 23 cats that need to be fixed and three that are pregnant.

Trisha Fravel has volunteered at the shelter for two years, taking dogs for walks and participating in other activities.

She believed that the shelter was responsible for Spay Today’s closure, saying requiring 30 surgeries a day overworked veterinarians — Spay Today officials said trouble keeping vets led to the closure.

Fravel said it’s also upsetting to know that the shelter does have to euthanize dogs and cats when space is limited. She recommended reducing the adoption fee to increase adoptions.

Several other speakers also appeared to hold the county government responsible for Spay Today’s closure, promoting Pitt County Manager Janis Gallagher to explain the organizations’ relationship.

The county had no authority over the organization’s decision to close, she said. In past years, when Spay Today struggled, the county increased its financial support and discussed reducing the number of surgeries, only to be told the amount was based on the board’s business model.

Pitt County is continuing to work with Spay Today’s board to determine what can be done to continue services and use the space, which is located next to the animal shelter on County Home Road.

Gallagher said the county has contracted with a veterinarian to continue altering pets adopted from the shelter. The county also is exploring the licensure and logistical requirements to provide spay/neuter services to the public.

Danielle Loman, a member of Spay Today’s board, said the organization tried to find a new veterinarian but couldn’t locate one.

Loman said newly graduated veterinarians can’t be hired because they need additional training to be certified to perform a large number of surgeries each day.

During discussions about the new shelter director, participants painted a picture of a someone who would revitalize animal services and its role in the community.

Fravel said the new director should have at least six years of experience in shelter operations and grant writing experience. Several people wanted the county to hire a grant writer, but Dixon said training an interested staff member would be less expensive.

Tabitha Murray, a member of Pitt Friends, an organization that fosters animals surrendered to the shelter, said the new director should give staff credit when it’s due, should be active in the daily operations of the shelter, be open to constructive criticism, should not show favoritism and clearly communicate expectations. Communication also includes praising both staff and volunteers.

The new director should also listen and allow team members to speak up and follow through with promises.

Finally, Murray said the new director should be uplifting, accountable and adaptable.

Janet Hofstetter, a supporter of several local animal welfare agencies, became involved with the shelter after teaching the daughter of another director and adopting “the most special of the seven cats I’ve adopted over the years,” from the shelter. That led Hofstetter to pitching in whenever the shelter and Pitt Friends needed something.

“I saw it as an opportunity to thank them for their tireless work and of course my special cat,” she said.

She’s focused on helping other rescue groups in recent years because it feels like “Pitt County Animal Services has fallen into a black hole.”

“My last involvement was Christmas holiday 2022. I participated in their Silent Night foster program and then a series of small things that happened when it was time to return the cat left me disappointed,” she said.

The new director needs to get information about the shelter’s good deeds in the community through an increased social media presence. Previously, a volunteer would post photographs of happy owners and their newly adopted pets and provide updates on the adoption and euthanasia rates.

“Whoever is hired, I wish them the best. You have a top-notch facility, probably one of the best in the state. When the shelter is running well it benefits its purpose, that is, of course, the homeless animal population in Pitt County,” Hofstetter said.

Bob Earnhardt said he was surprised to hear there is a differential in what is spent on cats and spent on dogs. He said he hopes what he heard was wrong.

“The new director needs to have some sort of advocacy for cats,” Earnhardt said.

Markham said the county, not just the new director, should focus on staff retention and training.

Several speakers said the shelter is currently closed to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, which they believe discourages people from adopting from that location.

Others said citizens are confused about the jurisdictions of the various animal services organizations in Pitt County.

Gallagher explained that Pitt County Animal Services operates in unincorporated areas of Pitt County and is contracted to provide services in Ayden, Bethel, Grifton, Grimesland, Farmville and Simpson. That includes picking up stray animals, housing them at the animal shelter and responding to calls of potentially dangerous animals or rabid animals.

The City of Greenville operates its own animal services program but houses animals at the Pitt County shelter.

There also was a call to improve transparency within animal services.

Grethen Pilgreen, who fosters animals through Pitt Friends, said there is a lack of transparency at the shelter, especially about euthanasia.

While Pitt County is touted as a no-kill shelter, animals are euthanized because of space restrictions, she said.

Alexander, the advisory board’s chairwoman, said she was pleased with the community’s input.

“There were excellent ideas from the public about things we can do to enhance animal services as well as the idea that this is a massive priority for citizens in the county. We want to meet their expectations but also really focus on animal welfare in a meaningful way,” Alexander said.