Committee advances Amanda Dehoney Hinkle for director of Indianapolis Animal Care and Services

The Indianapolis City Community Affairs Committee voted unanimously to send Proposal 208-2025 to the full City-County Council with a "do pass" recommendation to confirm Amanda Dehoney Hinkle as director of Indianapolis Animal Care and Services (IACS).

The nomination matters to residents and volunteers because IACS is the county's open-intake shelter and volunteers and staff said operational changes over the past year — notably cuts to volunteer hours and a vacant volunteer coordinator position — have reduced hands-on care for animals. Several volunteers and committee members urged Hinkle to restore volunteer programs and improve transparency.

Amanda Dehoney Hinkle, introduced by Councilor Ally Brown, chair of the Community Affairs Committee, presented her background and priorities. Hinkle said she has 20 years of experience in animal welfare, including roles in private veterinary practice and positions at Indianapolis Animal Care and Services and Greenfield-Hancock Animal Management. She told the committee she helped design a new 13,000-square-foot shelter in Hancock County, oversaw hiring and budgets, expanded volunteer programs and managed field operations. Hinkle listed certifications in euthanasia through the American Humane Society, an ASPCA dogfighting-investigation course, shelter-medicine training and FEMA disaster response training.

"I am committed to transparency and communication," Hinkle said, adding that her early priorities at IACS include assessing volunteer hours, managed intake and staffing. She told councilors she planned to meet separately with staff and volunteers to gather input before making operational changes.

Councilors who questioned Hinkle praised her experience and said they wanted to see improvements in both shelter and field operations. Councilor Keith Graves asked about staff morale and animal care; Hinkle said after three days on site she saw "a good team" and that managers were respected. Councilor Nick Roberts, who sponsored the nomination, and Councilor Michael Paul Hart both expressed support for Hinkle's candidacy during the committee discussion.

Public comment focused on volunteer program cuts and their effect on animals. Amy Gong, an IACS volunteer from Irvington, said volunteers are a "large, capable, dedicated, free workforce" and asked Hinkle to "review the volunteer hours" because reduced hours have limited evening care and damaged volunteer morale. Jessica Perry, a volunteer who runs social media for adoptable dogs and lives in Broad Ripple, said volunteers include professionals who could lead orientations and fundraisers and urged quick restoration of volunteer onboarding.

Monica (last name not given), who identified herself as a Perry Township resident and a volunteer, told the committee that between January 2024 and the same time in 2025 the shelter lost about 4,500 volunteer hours. She said that average translates to roughly 30 fewer volunteer hours per day and that the reductions have meant less enrichment and fewer eyes on animals.

Billy Bowling, administrator of operations for Animal Care Services, clarified operational details raised during the meeting. When asked whether the shelter's stray-hold period was five days, Bowling confirmed the hold period; he added that intake appointments are scheduled weeks out and said, "Stray appointments are scheduled out for weeks right now," indicating potential delays for residents trying to surrender or reclaim animals.

After questions and public comment, Councilor Nick Roberts moved to send Proposal 208-2025 to the full council with a do-pass recommendation; Councilor Michael Paul Hart seconded the motion. The committee voted by voice and the motion passed unanimously.

The committee chair said the nomination will be considered by the full City-County Council at its Aug. 11 meeting. Committee members and volunteers said they expect Hinkle to prioritize restoring volunteer hours, filling the volunteer coordinator position and improving communication between staff, volunteers and the public.