Rusk County Animal Shelter board approves new cat kennels, several travel and policy items

Rusk County Animal Shelter Board members on March 20 approved buying new cat kennels from donated funds and signed off on several routine policy and travel items, after a lengthy discussion about kennel size, configuration and storage.

Board members voted to buy multiple units of two kennel styles shown in the meeting packet, with the purchase to come from the shelter’s gift fund. The board’s discussion focused on durability, ease of cleaning and how many animals the units could house; members repeatedly noted that current cages are rusty and hard to clean and that new kennels would free up space used for cats in hallways and laundry areas.

Shelter staff described one style as a configurable unit whose center panels can open to join compartments for litters or siblings, and said a single purchased module could house two cats, with sets of three expected to fit in the kennel area the shelter identified. “In other words, bottom line, you get what you pay for,” a board member said during the discussion.

The motion described a package of units from the packet and gave a total cost of $9,021.64; the board approved the purchase and directed staff to confirm stock and shipping details before ordering additional units. Board members repeatedly clarified that the kennel purchase will be paid entirely from the gift fund, not from county tax levy dollars.

The board also approved a social media policy included in the meeting packet. A member praised the draft, saying, “I think what is written is acceptable,” and the board voted to adopt the policy without amendment.

Separately the board approved two travel items and a scholarship request. The board approved a scholarship for a staff member to attend a national animal-care conference in Las Vegas, which the presenter said covers registration, transportation and lodging but not food or alcohol; the presenter said a scholarship award would cover about $2,000 of estimated $2,025 total cost. The board also approved out-of-state travel associated with the scholarship and approved out-of-county travel to Madison for a one-day “Basic Animal Sheltering in Emergencies” training, with only mileage as the cost.

During its regular reports the shelter director reported 28 adoptions since the last meeting, and the shelter census at the time of the meeting was about 44–45 animals, including roughly 38 cats. Staff reported issuing one warning and three citations since the prior meeting and said several ongoing citation cases remain under prosecution with the district attorney.

Board members addressed a reported case of a resident with many adult dogs. The shelter said it has issued citations and offered to accept some animals but that many of the dogs are older (reported ages from about five to 12 years) and likely will be euthanized if surrendered; staff described the animals as fed and not showing signs of starvation and said the primary legal issue is an ordinance violation for animals running at large, not felony cruelty.

On budget matters staff walked the board through the 2024 operating and building fund reports, noting several over-budget line items such as overtime/part-time and supply costs and discussing procedures to charge spay/neuter mileage and clinic costs to the spay/neuter fund. Board members asked staff to include mileage notes on invoices and to work with finance to transfer eligible expenses from operating to targeted funds.

The board closed the meeting after approving the bills presented for payment and setting the next meeting for April 17 at 8:30 a.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve purchase of cat kennels from gift fund (motion text in minutes; total stated as $9,021.64): approved. Funding: gift fund. Further ordering details to be confirmed by staff. - Adopt social media policy (packet copy): approved. - Approve scholarship for national animal-care conference (registration/transport/lodging; scholarship covers most costs): approved. - Approve out-of-state travel tied to the scholarship: approved; forwarded to finance as required. - Approve out-of-county travel to Madison for Basic Animal Sheltering in Emergencies (mileage only): approved. - Approve bills presented at the meeting: approved.

The board’s approvals were routine and focused on operations and staff training; the kennel purchase and travel items will be handled through established finance and purchasing channels, with staff to report back on stock, shipping and any necessary invoice routing.