Animal-control officer asks board for part-time hire, cites 27% increase in calls and worker-safety findings

Greg Cave, who manages animal control, asked the Board to create a part-time position, saying the department has seen a 27% increase in calls over four years and that the department is the smallest among neighboring counties.

Greg said tethering-law changes and population growth contribute to more calls, and described many after-hours emergency responses (sick or injured animals, large animals out, dog bites). He reported that in recent years overtime actuals reached roughly $28,000 and are projected near $30,000 this year; adding a part-time position is projected in the budget to reduce overtime to about $18,570.

Greg proposed the hire carry a primary responsibility for animal-control duties and secondary assignments to facilities maintenance when time allows; he suggested a schedule that would provide roughly 24 hours per week plus on-call coverage. He said a hiring letter could require a minimum service period (commonly two years) or repayment if the employee leaves early.

Greg cited a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) report (October 2023) that found animal-control work had one of the highest rates of workers' compensation claims among public-safety functions.

Board members asked about training costs, rabies vaccinations, academy attendance, and the risk that a trained part-time hire could be recruited away. Greg and staff proposed an acceptance letter with reimbursement language as a hiring condition. No formal vote was recorded; the budget request will be considered in the county's broader budget process.