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Local shelter cites veterinarian vacancy, partnership and revenue impacts in budget talks
Summary
Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center told councilors its FY26 budget is level-funded at about $1.07 million but staff shortages — particularly lack of a full‑time veterinarian — have reduced shelter revenues and forced reliance on private and volunteer veterinarians and transfers to other organizations.
Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center presented a level-funded FY26 budget of about $1,073,000 and said it will operate with 21.5 FTEs while relying on grants and partnerships to cover some medical costs.
"My name is Heather Kaylin. I'm the interim executive director at Thomas O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center. Our budget this year is a level funded budget, funding 21 and a half FTEs," Heather Kaylin said. Kaylin told the council that several grants, including support from the Foundation for TGO animals, offset veterinary and clinic staffing costs.
Councilors and the director discussed a persistent vacancy for a full‑time veterinarian. Kaylin said the residency requirement and salary had deterred candidates and that the shelter has been relying on private veterinary services, volunteer veterinarians and transfers to other organizations. "It has been a very difficult year both fiscally and operationally without that key position," she said.
The director and councilors tied the lack of an on‑site veterinarian to reduced adoption and medical-fee revenue: transferred animals do not generate adoption fees and the center has sometimes waived fees to reunite pets with owners for compassionate reasons. Councilor Victor Davila asked whether residency requirements could be waived; Kaylin said no waiver has been offered yet and that the position had few applicants.
Kaylin told the council that the shelter has updated contracts with surrounding municipalities (Holyoke and Chicopee) to adjust per‑capita charges and that those revenues are recorded in the city's general-fund revenue accounts; Helen Carlton Harris (city staff) confirmed the contracts were adjusted and said the municipalities were satisfied with services.
No formal action was recorded on the TJO budget during the hearing.
