Fayette revamps animal shelter staff

Effective Saturday, the Fayette County Animal Shelter will operate with a revamped staff structure. Animal Control Director Jerry Collins received unanimous approval from the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28 to eliminate one shelter position, add another and adjust a third. Following last month’s retirement of the shelter’s kennel supervisor, Collins abolished that position and will instead hire a second senior animal control officer. A part-time animal adoption counselor will be upgraded to full time, joining another full-time counselor.

Collins made the reorganization request “to better serve our community and prepare for the upcoming move into the new animal shelter,” which is scheduled to be built next year. Funding for the two new positions will cost $500 less than the $58,901 salary of the former kennel supervisor. Collins said the revised staffing will mean two officers on call for service Monday-Friday and three staff members to clean kennels and care for the animals.