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Muncie Animal Care director warns of higher feeding and medical costs as shelter stays full
Summary
Director Josh Talby told the finance committee the shelter saw up to about 420–450 animals recently, driving food and medical costs higher; he asked for modest increases and flagged staff turnover, vehicle problems and grant-subsidized medical spending.
Josh Talby, director of Muncie Animal Care and Services, told the Muncie City Council finance committee the department’s 2026 proposed budget increases are modest but driven by higher-than-normal animal counts and operating needs.
"Last month... we had roughly 450 to 420 animals in house," Talby said, and estimated it costs "about $1.35 to $1.45 a day to feed each animal." He pointed to food, litter and institutional medical costs as the largest budget pressure and said some expenses had been shifted to a PEDCO grant when available.
Talby told the committee he trimmed smaller line items—natural gas, gas and oil…
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