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Animal Services asks council for three animal‑care attendants and pet pantry funding; items placed on reconciliation list
Summary
The council's Public Safety Committee recommended and the council agreed to add three animal‑care attendant positions and $30,000 for a pet food bank to the FY26 reconciliation list after department testimony on shelter needs and community programs.
The Montgomery County Office of Animal Services asked the council to add three animal‑care attendant (ACA) positions and $30,000 for the county pet food pantry to the FY26 budget; the Public Safety Committee placed those items on the reconciliation list for later consideration.
Executive Director Caroline Herefield told the council the shelter is understaffed by nine positions necessary to provide basic care and enrichment for animals and described the broader animal safety‑net programs the office runs, including domestic violence and homelessness sheltering, sterilization and wellness clinics, volunteer and foster programs, and an active pet pantry. Herefield said those community programs help keep people and pets together and that modest investments now can reduce downstream public‑health and welfare costs.
The committee recommended three ACA positions (budgeted at roughly $66,339 each in two tranches) and a $30,000 increase for the pet pantry be placed on the reconciliation list; council staff confirmed the items will be considered during budget reconciliation.
Next steps: The items will be reviewed during reconciliation as the council balances countywide budget priorities.
