[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",5978610,"mediaKeyId","5810924-05e8fac48fcd13ffa5fe1149b3c359da","parentId",5810924,"title","Commission cites statute, MOU and audit as contract dispute with Humane Society unfolds","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3919000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810924-05e8fac48fcd13ffa5fe1149b3c359da&start=3919&end=3919","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810924-05e8fac48fcd13ffa5fe1149b3c359da/thumbnail_3919000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5978610/Fayette-County/West-Virginia/Commission-cites-statute-MOU-and-audit-as-contract-dispute-with-Humane-Society-unfolds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978610-23746fa83cbf5c304554dd9bf64313b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155700&Signature=FLyvc4X2H5RCkkr3ixJSy5LPXsVa7wuQTqB7gxZjBt~BQ-v537i6fWo5-Mc-4Ff-xqTY2FT6T4BtunaKEYLSrp0n-2tPd13gexWNq~0UXUGgGf0pmGgtvKDqMzLNRrSyAdNZC1X~Mu7SAHSPW4qCOoXX931rQB7umNYhTpAaUGk2SISNXY6dXiUOaxeq2brKCuz4ob-eZvWN3opsWYZpHRgk2oBvkCXqxlKaYXAsZ4~nsKa6X6OTW8y1rhz3zqc1FCHSXpv-KS1nnKnQlmn7JckDnDrUqJ-rQWlW3-6-fZ5XMqVnMIIiEv-PQGDwbbgI9GrneIHX3LR1ofjui-SzOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fayette County, WV","date","2025-09-19T00:00:00Z","article","FAYETTE COUNTY — County officials cited West Virginia statute and the existing memorandum of understanding as they explained the legal and financial framework underpinning the dispute with the Fayette County Humane Society.

A county legal speaker told the meeting that \"pursuant to West Virginia law\" adoption fees from animals impounded by the animal control officer must be remitted to the county under West Virginia Code 19-20-10. The speaker said that adoption fees collected for animals surrendered directly to the shelter by the public are retained by the nonprofit operator, but fees from impounded animals are statutorily segregated to fund animal-control operations.

County officials said they had not been formally notified in writing that the Humane Society planned to end the contract and that they learned of the society's decision through social media. Officials said the county's outside counsel sent a letter to the Humane Society warning that failure to comply with the contract would prompt all actions permitted by law.

The commission also authorized an audit of the Humane Society's records, saying the MOU permits auditing. County officials told the meeting they have not completed an audit since 2022 and that they are seeking an auditor to review adoption reports, expense and donation records and the handling of county-owned property, including vehicles that the county holds title to.

Why it matters: The audit, statutory duties and the attorney letter have immediate implications for money that funds animal-control operations, for custody of county-owned property and for the legal rights and obligations of both the county and the nonprofit operator.

Public commenters asked for transparency about how adoption fees, fines from animal-cruelty cases and donations are recorded and spent. County officials said adoption-fee remittances from impounded animals are intended to support the animal-control fund and its operations, per state code, and that the county has sought information from the Humane Society to reconcile reports.

Ending: The commission said it will pursue auditing, contractual reconciliation and, if necessary, legal remedies while it takes over day-to-day shelter operations to ensure animals receive care.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fayette County Commission Special Meeting September 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County officials said state law requires adoption fees from impounded animals be remitted to the county; they referenced the MOU with the Humane Society and said an audit was authorized while a demand letter from county counsel pressed for compliance.","taxTitle","Fayette County, West Virginia","taxId",68907,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},5978615,"Shelter director, staff and volunteers urge county to prioritize animals, cite staff sacrifices and worries about social-media attacks",406,880000,1286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810924-05e8fac48fcd13ffa5fe1149b3c359da&start=880&end=1286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810924-05e8fac48fcd13ffa5fe1149b3c359da/thumbnail_880000.jpg","/articles/5978615/Fayette-County/West-Virginia/Shelter-director-staff-and-volunteers-urge-county-to-prioritize-animals-cite-staff-sacrifices-and-worries-about-social-media-attacks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978615-12a6e89213b3cb39857e2585585a4870/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155700&Signature=QTbPshDkeHlamGze8bkXJhGqpcoqDzby4V6j0Ky~n~RQIfS7kuYjyYlmzLYLqfkvDOcCcC60hRL2VthUwPObLJ1JAAvGR95CZlbG4AY~ZUGS6DSSNvjfhnCkVTJoRb-TTPrfK3OX8XLqGjqf4CCb4~3YUXeYGnE6LrvMRK3kLHtrrvHyYpfwZGjGbopxW-NyFkypLEQE0F9YQEgjintxNZr62TDnairZCK21YosBzGCrHp8UVKTeoUE9v-MJtpUM9PMdV7bMOekQli4uCqDcZ05TtnNNKpnOc89ZEQD7CLZaKHlGuTIm3bc3YK6wXVPxq2PY-~kW1oOOnTIQIWLHhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","FAYETTE COUNTY — Fayette County Humane Society director Fallon Wakefield and several shelter staff and volunteers told commissioners in public comment that recent actions and online criticism have harmed staff morale and limited lifesaving work at the county shelter.

Wakefield, who said she has served as director since December 2023, described the role as her life and said she and her staff have worked unpaid overtime and sacrificed personal time and health to keep animals safe. \"This has never been a job to me. This has been my life, my heart, my soul,\" she told the commission.

Staff and volunteers said the removal or restriction of vehicles and confusion about access had made it harder to transport animals to rescues and veterinary care. Board member Andrew Warwick said staff had reported being worried after a job listing and social-media posts, and he asked why county officials had not met with staff in person when concerns first arose.

Volunteers said the shelter is frequently overcrowded, that volunteer access is limited only during disease-control shutdowns such as parvovirus outbreaks, and that staff routinely use personal vehicles and unpaid hours to transport animals. A shelter employee described staffing and pay conditions: \"We get no health insurance, no sick days, no vacation time,\" the employee said during public comment.

Multiple volunteers and staff recounted cases of animals needing urgent care and said staff had used personal time and vehicles to get animals treatment. Public commenters urged the commission to work with the community and fund support services, such as spay/neuter programs and grant writing, to reduce intake and improve care.

Why it matters: Testimony highlighted immediate risks to animals if transportation and staffing are constrained and underscored tensions between shelter staff and county officials. Commissioners said they were acting to secure animal welfare by assuming operations and providing funds for payroll and immediate supplies.

The meeting included repeated appeals from staff to be heard before decisions affecting shelter operations were made. Several speakers also criticized hostile postings on Facebook and said such posts had contributed to a toxic environment for staff and volunteers.

Ending: Shelter employees and volunteers urged civic leaders and the public to focus on animal welfare and asked county officials to ensure staff have benefits, clear communication and the resources needed to continue lifesaving work.","Shelter director Fallon Wakefield and staff testified that employees work unpaid hours and lack benefits, while volunteers and board members said staff face harassment online and transport limits hamper lifesaving work.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},5978620,"Fayette County to run shelter after Humane Society ends contract; hires, surrenders pause and adoption fees approved",75,4748000,4823000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810924-05e8fac48fcd13ffa5fe1149b3c359da&start=4748&end=4823","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810924-05e8fac48fcd13ffa5fe1149b3c359da/thumbnail_4748000.jpg","/articles/5978620/Fayette-County/West-Virginia/Fayette-County-to-run-shelter-after-Humane-Society-ends-contract-hires-surrenders-pause-and-adoption-fees-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978620-2863134c914687740a51b5b79695a24c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155700&Signature=NjnhQrpmvPQm6Jrre1nTMGJY62fdKBH0gd0wwkP-tRqLJiLCrUG0AsjT9DeXbVil3n8o9ELAN14IXMxIv2S1p0JhqXXnxfihMRFxAOU401Zbx4i17oOy4Ry9phELHknDrIlO5HrJMWHxQGrVV~3QRJjbtx8~TfA4~30jWsEaSOj-OGVKsEAosu1RNWoXGJV2TReFVTbXgOtbs~Cj8qNtZzcWD4a1kG2Qzxy0wRq5kZ1YAqh0wZaVn62IAdvbd05uDdLm74FUDT9b1KK7fTlvx2haiEzkaQ2tEPIJRSNFGND7AILuLX9CsBJv2EpbNgSRmb-FdeP0RtUPzRiwVxV8ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","FAYETTE COUNTY — The Fayette County Commission agreed at a public meeting to assume day-to-day operation of the county animal shelter after the Fayette County Humane Society informed the commission it would no longer operate under the contract. Commissioners authorized hiring kennel technicians, paused owner surrenders and approved a new adoption-fee schedule to fund care for impounded animals.

The commission said it must act because state law requires counties with animal control officers to provide an animal shelter. A county official said the county \"will undertake its statutory obligation to operate\" the shelter until a new operator is found.

Why it matters: The changes take immediate effect while animals remain at the facility. County operation means employees overseeing shelter functions will be county employees with county benefits, commissioners said, and the county plans to fund immediate operating needs so animals receive veterinary care, food and transport.

The commission voted to authorize the county administrator to hire kennel technicians and other animal welfare staff to staff the facility. The board also voted to pause owner surrenders while capacity is near or over double what staff described at the meeting, and to approve the following adoption fees for impounded animals: $175 for dogs, $200 for puppies, $110 for kittens and $95 for adult cats. The fees were described by commissioners as inclusive of spay/neuter, vaccinations, a heartworm test for dogs, dewormer and a microchip; the shelter operator will be required to provide proof that required procedures were completed.

Commissioners also approved contracting authority for necessary supplies, food and software to support the shelter as it transitions to county operation. Commissioners said the county had previously provided building maintenance, two vans, and salary reimbursement; one county official said this year the county budget included $215,000 toward shelter payroll and that the county had provided approximately $75,000 in startup funds when the current humane society began operations.

At the meeting commissioners said they had not received formal written notice from the humane society about ending the contract until social media posts made the situation public. The commission said it has authorized an audit and is working to secure an auditor; commissioners said the Humane Society contract allows auditing.

What commissioners decided (official actions): the commission moved and seconded motions to (1) authorize the county administrator to post and hire kennel technician positions and animal welfare officers, (2) authorize staff to enter contracts for food, veterinary services and software, (3) pause owner surrenders while capacity is constrained, and (4) adopt the new adoption-fee schedule. Each motion received an affirmative vote and was carried. The motions did not include detailed roll-call tallies in the public record at the meeting.

Next steps and timeline: Commissioners said county staff will continue preparing the shelter for county operation and asked for civility from the public during the transition. The Humane Society board asked for until Oct. 18 to remove property; commissioners indicated they would work with the society on equipment and access but also said the county must ensure animals are safe during the handover.

The meeting included sustained public comment and testimony from shelter staff urging continued lifesaving care. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized their stated priority: ensuring animals are cared for while the county establishes operations.

Ending note: County leaders said more work remains on funding, staffing and a long-term facility plan; they encouraged volunteers and nonprofit partners to form a donations-and-fundraising entity to support operations that government rules limit from accepting directly.","After the Fayette County Humane Society indicated it would stop operating the county shelter, commissioners voted to have the county run day-to-day operations, authorize kennel technician hires, pause owner surrenders and adopt a new fee schedule to cover care and operations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission cites statute, MOU and audit as contract dispute with Humane Society unfolds

Shelter director, staff and volunteers urge county to prioritize animals, cite staff sacrifices and worries about social-media attacks

Fayette County to run shelter after Humane Society ends contract; hires, surrenders pause and adoption fees approved