Hamilton shelter reports 39 dogs, boosts volunteer, foster programs as township ramps up dog‑license enforcement

Danielle (Shelter Manager) told the council on May 20 that Hamilton Township Animal Shelter was housing 39 dogs and 42 cats, had multiple animals in foster care and has added a part‑time volunteer coordinator to expand volunteer orientations and training.

Officials and residents used the Board of Health/council meeting to press for clearer adoption information and to seek stronger enforcement of dog‑license rules. Shelter staff and the administration described a targeted enforcement effort beginning with a list of more than 820 licenses that have not been renewed.

Why it matters: animal‑shelter operations and licensing enforcement affect public safety, public‑health (vaccination coverage), animal welfare and township revenues tied to licensing compliance.

Danielle gave the shelter inventory and program update: "As of today... the shelter is housing 39 dogs in the shelter. We have 5 dogs in foster, 2 at Bark Institute, 42 cats in the shelter, and 11 in foster care," she said. She also reported the shelter had issued 3,170 dog licenses as of April 30 and had run four free rabies clinics this year that vaccinated a total of 726 animals.

The shelter recently hired a part‑time volunteer coordinator, Faith, who expanded volunteer orientation sessions to include Saturdays; Danielle said volunteers had logged 1,271 hours so far this year and there were 79 "active" volunteers (those who volunteered in the past four months). The shelter has introduced dog‑walking logs, a color‑coded handling system for dogs (green, blue, yellow, red) and "buddy" training classes so more volunteers can walk higher‑need animals.

Resident Lisa Williams asked several questions about animals in foster care, the shelter website and adoption events. Danielle explained that some dogs are in "foster to adopt" situations—Darcy, for example, was in foster pending recovery and weight gain and therefore not listed on the website because the foster intends to adopt. She said Sylvia (a long‑term dog at Bark Institute) is being fostered without charges to the shelter and would be introduced to interested adopters through Bark.

On licensing enforcement, an animal‑control officer (ACO) explained the department has identified "just over 820" dog licenses that have not been renewed and that ACOs are beginning targeted visits to owners on that list. The administration said enforcement will follow due‑process steps: notifications by email and phone, notices of violation, and, if needed, summonses. The township plans to offer ACOs overtime and off‑hours coverage to increase enforcement.

"We are the ACOs are visiting they're starting with that list," the ACO said. The administration noted it has five ACOs covering 40+ square miles and about 92,000 residents and said it needs public reporting to supplement targeted enforcement.

On community outreach, Danielle said businesses interested in hosting adoption events should contact the shelter; the shelter has worked with the library and is following permitting requirements for longer‑term displays at commercial locations.

Discussion versus action: the council received updates and asked questions; no formal policy or ordinance changes were adopted. Council members commended the shelter's progress and the increased volunteer capacity.

Details to follow: shelter staff said they will update website listings as animals change status, continue outreach for adoption events and proceed with targeted licensing enforcement starting with the list of unrenewed licenses.

"If someone was interested in needing her, BARC would facilitate that introduction," Danielle said about a long‑term fostered dog, and she asked residents to contact the shelter directly about adoption events and volunteer orientations.