The following comments are being provided to provide information about the incident that occurred on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 at the Wythe County Animal Shelter.

Officer Arlan Dunford scheduled the assistance of Wytheville’s Animal Control Officer to assist with euthanizing on Tuesday morning Jan. 17, 2012. Euthanizing requires two individuals to be present and Wythe County Animal Control Officer Danny Blanchett was not scheduled to return to work until Thursday, Jan. 19.

Prior to Jan. 17, Officer Dunford received a call from an individual wanting to adopt, or help have adopted, two of the dogs pictured in the weekend newspaper. Officer Dunford indicated to her that he would be euthanizing on Tuesday. The individual asked if he could hold those two dogs and someone would be by to get them on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Officer Dunford met Officer Scott around 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17 since Officer Scott’s normal schedule at the Wytheville Cat Shelter begins at 7 a.m. Dogs were euthanized, but the two dogs that were requested to be held were not euthanized along with other dogs that were being held to hopefully be claimed by owners.

State law requires that strays found without a collar or other identification be held for a minimum of five days. If collar or other identification, they must be held an additional five days - §3.2 -6546.

Upon completion, Officer Scott left the Wythe County Animal Shelter and met an individual who was at the complex to drop off a cat for the Wytheville Cat Shelter.

There were also individuals who had come to adopt a dog/dogs from the shelter. Unfortunately, the dog(s) these individuals had come to adopt had already been euthanized.

Obviously, this was very traumatic for the individuals who had come to adopt a dog/dogs. Had Officer Dunford been aware in advance that these individuals wanted to adopt these dogs; they would not have been euthanized.

Officer Dunford’s actions were not of ill will or malice. The two dogs that were held were adopted on Thursday, Jan. 19.

Unfortunately, there are too many dogs that have not been spayed or neutered. Since Tuesday, Jan. 17, the pound has received an additional 11 dogs, which when combined with seven in the shelter equals a total of 18 dogs. One of these dogs was claimed by owner and nine dogs have been adopted, which includes the two that were held and adopted last Thursday.

This means that eight dogs currently are in the shelter. Surprisingly it also means that despite all of the media coverage about the animal shelter this past week; only seven dogs have been adopted, excluding the two previously mentioned.

Officer Dunford still has over 20 strays and owner releases needing to be picked up or brought to the shelter. Unfortunately, until dog owners take more responsibility to have their dogs spayed or neutered, we will continue to have a problem with pet overpopulation.

The County must make certain that the animal shelter is properly staffed and operated. There has been discussion this past week of last year’s shelter inspection and violations. These items were addressed and corrected to make certain the shelter is run in compliance with state laws.

As much of the public is aware, the County has made physical improvements to lighting and heating system at the shelter. Currently, the County’s Building and Grounds Department is performing maintenance work on the individual dog runs.

In addition to the physical improvements, operational improvements are also occurring. Applicants were interviewed in December and a part-time animal shelter custodian began work Monday, Jan. 23.

This person will assist with feeding, watering, cleaning, answering phone calls and greeting the public. The shelter will now be available to be open to the public for additional hours.

The shelter hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.; Wednesday 3 to 5 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3  to 5 p.m.

Jenna Coleman, the County’s Public Information Officer, has been working with the County’s Website, Facebook, and print and radio media to advertise the dogs that are available for adoption at the shelter. The part-time custodian will be able to help this process by taking pictures and sending information to Ms. Coleman for posting.

A positive aspect of this week is that the County has received a few calls requesting to volunteer at the shelter. The County will work to coordinate a schedule and duties with these individuals that could be performed during hours when the part time custodian is working.

In addition, the County has received an email from Lost Fantasies Stables and Animal Rescue in Ceres that would like to start receiving transfers from the shelter. The County would welcome any other qualifying agency desire to work with us as well in transferring animals.

The County also welcomes any qualifying agency that would be willing to be contacted about the owner releases so that they could pick up those dogs directly from the owners.

In closing, the County would like to once again express its regrets that the individuals at the shelter on the morning of Jan. 17 were unable to adopt the dog or dogs she had hoped to get last Tuesday.

The County hopes she understands that this was unfortunate and had the shelter been aware she wanted to adopt those dogs they would have accommodated her. As a shelter, the County must continue to do its part to provide adequate care to these dogs while they are in its possession and work with individuals and agencies to help control the pet population.