DuPage County animal services adds full‑time veterinarian, readies facility repairs and public outreach as bird‑flu precautions continue

DuPage County Animal Services confirmed a new full‑time veterinarian and described ongoing precautions for avian influenza while updating the board on shelter population, construction timelines and an April fundraising gala.

The advisory board said Dr. Kristen has joined full time after covering relief shifts; Dr. Susan Brown served earlier as interim deputy administrator veterinarian. Laura Winnie, a staff member who spoke at the meeting, said the shelter population is down and staff remain focused on intake and isolation procedures as a precaution against avian influenza and other contagious illnesses.

"It's a nasal swab right now, an oral nasal swab," Dr. Kristen said when asked how testing for avian influenza would be conducted. Winnie told the board, "We are finally under a 100 animals in our care, which is a critical thing."

Why it matters: hiring a permanent veterinarian affects day‑to‑day medical decisions for animals in care and the shelter's ability to respond to disease risk. The board said staff have been coordinating with outside agencies and will emphasize staff training, partner communication and public messaging on when to report sick or dead waterfowl.

Board and staff updates - Staffing and medical oversight: The board welcomed Dr. Kristen as a full‑time veterinarian; Dr. Susan Brown had served as interim deputy administrator veterinarian during the hiring process. Dr. Kristen summarized her background in shelter medicine and spay/neuter work and said shelter medicine and spay/neuter are her professional focus.

- Avian influenza and intake screening: Board members and staff reported coordination with veterinary partners and public‑health channels. Staff said they are training intake workers to watch for specific signs that can overlap with other diseases and to isolate animals as appropriate. The board noted guidance from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on reporting wild bird deaths and said it will share public information through social media and the shelter newsletter.

- Shelter population and operations: Staff reported the shelter's in‑care population is under 100 animals and that cats remain the largest group. Staff said they are intentionally keeping intake and outcomes balanced while parts of the facility are under renovation, and that current reductions in kennel capacity are temporary.

- Construction and facilities: The board discussed HVAC sizing issues in a shelter building (described in the meeting as the "bridal building") that required temporary space heaters during cold weather; staff said a sizing analysis is underway and an answer is expected in the coming weeks. The board also said electrical switching gear has arrived and that staff expect to coordinate two planned power shutdowns; the project is still on track to be "substantially complete by the end of February," according to staff remarks.

- Public safety and interagency training: After recounting local field incidents involving wildlife rescue, the board said it will host a field services training in March at the new facility and will invite police departments, the Forest Preserve District, DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The training is intended to clarify roles for animal‑related calls and improve interagency response.

- Spay/neuter program and funding: Staff described a county program that funds free spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, microchipping and basic blood work for DuPage County residents who receive SNAP benefits. Board members said the program has been more generous than in many counties and that staff sometimes pause outreach near fiscal year end when funds run low. A recurring unrestricted grant of about $50,000 per year was mentioned in discussion as a typical annual bucket of funds, but the board said program funding uses multiple budget sources.

- Fundraising and events: The board said tickets and sponsorships are being sold for an April 25 gala at the Lyle Sheridan (listed in meeting remarks as the event venue). Staff and volunteer leaders are recruiting sponsors and table purchasers; board members asked to be connected with foundation staff helping outreach.

Votes at a glance The meeting recorded several routine procurement and finance motions by agenda identifier; each motion was moved, seconded and approved on voice vote. The transcript did not include motion text or individual roll‑call tallies. Items recorded as approved were: - Agenda item 250320 — motion text not specified; outcome: approved. - ASP002‑25 — motion text not specified; outcome: approved. - Agenda item 250217 — motion text not specified; outcome: approved. - Agenda item 250219 — motion text not specified; outcome: approved. - ASR001‑25 — motion text not specified; outcome: approved. - FIR0020‑25 (grants) — motion text not specified; outcome: approved. Discussion noted the item covered funds from the prior year and referenced an unrestricted grant bucket. - FIR012‑25 (finance resolution) — motion text not specified; outcome: approved. - FIR0013‑25 — motion text not specified; outcome: approved.

What was not decided or not specified The transcript shows all motions were approved on voice vote but does not provide text for the agenda items, named movers or recorded roll‑call tallies. Where text or dollar amounts were discussed in passing (for example, an approximate $50,000 annual unrestricted grant bucket), the board identified those as typical approximations rather than precise, itemized line‑items in the meeting record.

Looking ahead Staff said they will publish live shelter statistics (including live‑release rates) and return with updated intake and outcome data at the February meeting. The board also asked staff to promote the March field services training to mayors, police chiefs and intergovernmental partners to improve coordination on animal calls.