Johnson County recognizes Animal Control deputy for national award; approves shelter travel and uniforms

The Board of Johnson County Commissioners publicly recognized Mike Clark, deputy director of Johnson County Animal Control, after the Humane Society of the United States named him a recipient of its 2025 Humane Law Enforcement Award.

Commissioners praised the county's animal shelter staff and volunteers for day-to-day work behind the scenes. Chair remarks thanked the shelter's employees and described their work as "thankless" but essential.

Separately, the board approved a request from the animal shelter director to send two shelter staff (the director and the shelter manager) to the Humane Society of the United States annual conference in Las Vegas. The trip includes professional-development sessions; dates discussed were registration on Monday and multi-day programming through Friday. Commissioners moved and seconded the travel request and approved it by voice vote.

The board also approved purchase of staff shirts (15 shirts) to help identify shelter employees and volunteers, new uniform items and boots for a recently hired animal control officer, and two sweatshirts with a badge for the deputy director (a $100 addition was requested and approved). Commissioners voted to approve these uniform and supply purchases by voice vote.

Why it matters: the recognition highlights county animal-control work and the approved training/travel and uniforms aim to support shelter operations, volunteer coordination and staff safety.

Details: the award recognition was ceremonial; the travel and uniform items were approved as routine administrative requests. The shelter director said the conference runs daily sessions and the staff hoped to minimize hotel nights if flight pricing allows.