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