[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6297588,"mediaKeyId","2509662-991c121bfc74d58e80e1866100b23e30","parentId",2509662,"title","Advisory board approves minutes, annual report and elects officers; schedules goal-setting for May meeting","audioSeconds",2939,"startMs",104000,"endMs",3043000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2509662-991c121bfc74d58e80e1866100b23e30&start=104&end=3043","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2509662-991c121bfc74d58e80e1866100b23e30/thumbnail_104000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6297588/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Advisory-board-approves-minutes-annual-report-and-elects-officers-schedules-goal-setting-for-May-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297588-2c9d69754a276b1191db1daee091e949/orig.mp4?Expires=1776009395&Signature=Tj6Sc31iq55o6cbN5kaX~toNLKoepRZBGLQ1OC13qjJVW17diGs2j5l7qL6-KLSmv2rQdjQK2xp4KubD1tVpdAjkNdhAjRuvSAxHSVmB44fqibKM9n8oOYzRRu5SyWvqfarcm89NFK4Tbj77WCWdsqIhB3HLLyvT8DJzDrFblkr9sZFdBexAdl4HxXwyEa1d9yXw3zoxXSHzVrzyTWTcjFYnVSVCGPsfiC4RvgM~iXnKxzyqK2J3gajBCIIf9~aL2kccn1DastJeWMMxpH3239y6Pi3HsEqzYbWcN4arFa0m-vfrFdtnmCyNie9pVsM5XZjGtWx~y3nI8aTcjbH7wA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-03-05T21:57:30Z","article","The St. Mary's County Animal Control Advisory Board completed several procedural votes during its March 5 meeting, including approval of past minutes, adoption of the 2024 annual report and the election of officers.

The board approved the November meeting minutes by voice vote after a motion to approve was made and seconded. The chair announced, \"The ayes have it.\" The 2024 annual report for the prior year was also approved on a motion to submit the report.

Officer elections passed by voice vote. Molly Schmeiser moved to reelect Steve Tuttle as chair; the motion was seconded and the board approved it. The board elected Cesar as vice chair (motion and second recorded) and elected Becky as secretary (motion and second recorded).

On new business, a motion to place a discussion of five goals for 2025 on the next meeting agenda passed. The board agreed to solicit written suggestions by email from staff and board members to prepare for that May agenda item.

All procedural votes recorded at the meeting were voice votes; the meeting transcript does not include a roll-call tally for individual members.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/5/25 Animal Control Advisory Board","oneSentenceSummary","The Animal Control Advisory Board approved its November minutes and the 2024 annual report, reelected Steve Tuttle as chair and named Cesar vice chair and Becky secretary; the board also voted to discuss 2025 goals at the next meeting (May).","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6297593,"Board discusses veterinarian vacancy and recruitment strategies; county HR conducting salary study",142,1018000,1160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2509662-991c121bfc74d58e80e1866100b23e30&start=1018&end=1160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2509662-991c121bfc74d58e80e1866100b23e30/thumbnail_1018000.jpg","/articles/6297593/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-discusses-veterinarian-vacancy-and-recruitment-strategies-county-HR-conducting-salary-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297593-9a86ea4f9f4da82dff102c1023008361/orig.mp4?Expires=1776009395&Signature=B-RzEN-FhDTEg~lPttj2p83Fu2kZuekTje6lqIN4GxopHx76rrfqct1SWUHQhPu~zoKXuckaGczCCLKwlG8JWoUmSBDikin2P5RYXGZLyhobKsj52RGPLdIRiuL9Q7fmBkliZKH7Wd7C-0FUd3q0ZBDLnGK0dXfIpVHf6AIofywMKMrZIq8p8yuhzHSzTwZDqDHEEFZJMrWmPbezN3lE62BepOjkHjYu7Qcjdn4WwSTFCPtY-WYTiF7Ll4cGM4VOwoFdg~6R-YO-XLt47V6BAJ7zD7d~LAHEv5HMHN58GAvJt-cVsZJEMNKCFzXYBsmuk3YE3YsFgnerl8QGlwd3Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Animal Control Advisory Board discussed options to fill a vacant part‑time veterinarian position and ways to make the role more attractive to applicants.

Jennifer Ruttz, director of emergency services, told the board the prior veterinarian position was filled on Jan. 19 and vacated on or about April 2, 2024, and that the current part‑time position is posted at about $86,000 per year for 20 hours a week. \"The current salary is, approximately $86,000 a year for 20 hours a week,\" Ruttz said. She added that county human resources is conducting a comparable salary study to see what neighboring jurisdictions pay shelter veterinarians.

Board members raised recruitment tactics and advertising venues. Rebecca Ironmonger, a retired veterinarian on the board, suggested posting the opening to veterinary-specific outlets such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) job board; other members offered to research additional outreach. Ironmonger also noted national survey medians for shelter veterinarians, saying the median for a full‑time role was about $122,500 and that part‑time rates in some surveys averaged the equivalent of $85 an hour for respondents in that dataset.

Ruttz and Hollis Lampe, animal services division manager, said the shelter has relied on a volunteer veterinarian who provides weekly vaccination clinics and limited medical checks, and that most medical cases requiring treatment are sent to private clinics in Waldorf when necessary. Lampe said spay/neuter surgeries are being performed through a reduced-cost provider (identified in discussion as Paw Prints in northern Waldorf) and that animals are transported to the provider for surgery before adopters finalize adoptions.

Board members urged exploring alternatives to increasing the posted salary alone: advertising on veterinary-specific sites, investigating student‑loan repayment or other benefit sweeteners, and considering whether a full‑time position at a market rate would attract more candidates. Ruttz said only the county commissioners can authorize a salary increase, and that HR must complete the market study before any formal request to the commissioners.

No formal motion to change the salary or position type was adopted at the meeting; members asked staff to compile options for outreach and potential compensation adjustments for presentation to HR and the commissioners.","Board members, volunteers and county staff discussed the county's vacant part-time veterinarian position, advertising strategies, and whether to request a higher salary or a full‑time position to attract candidates.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6297598,"St. Mary's County animal shelter reports 34% rise in intakes, board presses for humane feral-cat options",160,130000,290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2509662-991c121bfc74d58e80e1866100b23e30&start=130&end=290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2509662-991c121bfc74d58e80e1866100b23e30/thumbnail_130000.jpg","/articles/6297598/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-animal-shelter-reports-34-rise-in-intakes-board-presses-for-humane-feral-cat-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297598-c1758441ab536e9ddc04fe4a6b7cc7b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776009395&Signature=cT5ygWer~hYsqJ4peLXi415o6qmhTVdcJX~TdKg3OdjEVfxWb6kvB9M3yDuUt~n7Ir~Is2WTIHFWvSAYUuvCbog3~dn6ATebOCjLZKe~5M5e5FrsUheeA~1OqbwaV8j5EsiDM0287olUhRXTyxbm5yr3mwY-3b~sXF8RUj0i~vO~FIzb7yo18pQp1gcXrcoOzSJ7ydKkxGHOLhwCxx5VGiojYr1Rvf0I9DFoq40yuynj8JBpGvVlxhuJEOU1uX-ibgBgwEayJzJnMAqhDGqKHMbd44Y99CcsXrSi9CCq41ObdQ-yIhPeN5BMfmbhotwzzGBzijKbnFVg3rnSe-Z0Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Animal Services Division reported that 639 animals entered the county shelter between Nov. 5 and Feb. 25, a 34% increase from 475 in the same period last year.

Hollis Lampe, St. Mary's County Animal Services division manager, told the Animal Control Advisory Board that during the period the shelter recorded 239 owner surrenders, 222 strays, 84 animals transferred in, 56 seized animals and 6 animals born in care. The shelter recorded 425 adoptions, 96 returns to owners and 75 transfers to coalition partners. \"A hundred and 9 animals were euthanized and 8 died in custody,\" Lampe said, and the shelter achieved an 86 percent live release rate for the period. She said the average length of stay was 20.5 days for dogs and 38.8 days for cats.

Board members and volunteers pressed staff for more humane alternatives for feral cats after Lampe and others described a pattern of property owners asking animal control to remove large, unsterilized colonies. Diane Harris of Feral Cat Rescue said many of the cats the rescue sees are not socialized for adoption and urged the board and community members to help find outdoor or barn homes for groups of feral cats. \"We should try to help with that,\" Harris said, describing the need for acclimation space and managed outdoor housing.

Lampe said the county has a trap-neuter-return (TNR) policy in place with Animal Services and Emergency Management, and that the division is not actively trapping ear-tipped cats because ear-tipped cats typically have a caretaker: \"The only ear-tipped cats that we are currently accepting at the shelter are those that are sick or injured.\" Board members asked staff to clarify how TNR and return policies are applied when property owners refuse to retain or support colonies.

The shelter reported several operational notes: animal control answered 1,210 calls for service including 193 cruelty investigations; the pet pantry distributed thousands of pounds of pet food; 90 new volunteers were onboarded, including 23 youth volunteers; and the county gained custody of 36 large-breed dogs seized in Charlotte Hall, 17 of which had been adopted and six placed with a rescue partner by the time of the meeting. Lampe said a fee-waived adoption promotion was planned for March 14–16 and that both pot-bellied pigs in long-term care were recently adopted.

Board members sought additional data from staff, including breakdowns by species for intake and for the 109 euthanasia cases. Lampe said she did not have the species breakdown on hand but would provide that information by email.

Board members discussed limits on county authority and funding. Steve Tuttle, the board chair, and Jennifer Ruttz, director of emergency services, said funding constraints and staffing affect the county’s ability to expand spay/neuter services or add recurring county-paid programs. Ruttz said some one-time improvements (storage containers, facility tweaks) have been easier to secure than recurring budget items such as county-funded spay/neuter programs.

The board agreed to return feral-cat strategies to new business and to develop a set of goals for 2025 that could be presented to the county commissioners, including requests for targeted funding or county-supported programs.","Shelter staff told the St. Mary's County Animal Control Advisory Board that 639 animals entered the shelter from Nov. 5–Feb. 25, a 34% increase over last year, and board members pressed for alternatives to euthanasia for feral cats and for more volunteer and community housing options.","actionData","errors"]

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Advisory board approves minutes, annual report and elects officers; schedules goal-setting for May meeting

Board discusses veterinarian vacancy and recruitment strategies; county HR conducting salary study

St. Mary's County animal shelter reports 34% rise in intakes, board presses for humane feral-cat options