Marshall Pet Adoption Center chief outlines staffing, intake and reporting challenges

The chief of the Marshall Pet Adoption Center told Harrison County officials on the record that the shelter took in 994 animals during the past year and is operating with one full-time employee and three open positions, including zero animal control officers on staff. The chief said the facility opened in 2021 and that staff have reduced the facility’s occupancy from three times the state capacity to ‘‘at capacity’’ by changing procedures and increasing transports, fosters and partnerships.

The report mattered to county leaders because commissioners have questioned differences in how the center treats animals from city and county residents. The chief said intake and treatment are the same for city and county residents and that the center’s contract prevents charging the county for drop-offs. The chief also offered to provide quarterly reports to the judge and commissioners so officials can track closures or managed intake periods.

The chief provided specific numbers and operational details: 380 animals were dropped off by county residents, 587 by city…