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TJO animal control says veterinary staffing shortage raises costs and shelter risk
Summary
TJO leaders described expanding community outreach and disaster-preparedness plans but said they lack a full-time veterinarian; staff warned cuts to professional services could increase euthanasia risk and said regional partnerships are helping bridge capacity gaps.
Heather (acting executive director) and Amy (TJO representative) told the hearing that the regional animal control shelter serving Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke has expanded community outreach, microchipping and preparedness work but remains short of a full-time veterinarian.
"It's not just puppies and kittens and happy times," Amy said, describing the shelter's role in fires, dangerous-animal calls and public-safety quarantines. She said officers are doing more in-field reunifications (RTOs) and outreach to avoid shelter intake.
Heather and Amy told councilors TJO relies on a combination of Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke contract revenue and private foundation grants for services beyond the baseline, and that the TJO Foundation provided about $165,000 last year for veterinary care and other needs. They said the shelter is piloting coalition clinics with organizations such as the MSPCA and Dakin to provide spay/neuter and other procedures without the shelter incurring full veterinary costs.
Heather warned that without a full-time veterinarian the shelter must purchase professional veterinary services on an as-needed basis, which comes from OTPS lines. She said reducing the professional services line could increase the risk of euthanasia for animals that need care because the shelter lacks in-house capacity to perform surgeries and ongoing treatment. The shelter also emphasized volunteer support and microchipping-for-free events as means to reduce intake and costs.
Councilors asked about recruitment; staff said they had posted the veterinarian position widely but have not attracted candidates, noting a national shortage of veterinarians. The administration discussed a potential $10,000 signing bonus funded by private donors if a qualified veterinarian were hired.
