Supervisors flag animal-shelter management and IGA funding after Douglas shelter manager fired

Cochise County supervisors discussed animal-shelter operations, intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) and funding requests after supervisors said the manager of the Douglas shelter was dismissed by the nonprofit that had been operating the facility.

Supervisor Sophia Gomez said community members want a task force after the dismissal, and residents in Douglas have raised questions about why the manager — identified in the meeting as Tammy — was fired by the shelter operator. "I've had people want to form a task force on the animal shelters," Gomez said. "Nobody seems to know why she was fired."

Board members reviewed the county's IGAs with municipal shelters in Douglas, Wilcox and Benson and said the agreements are primarily for funding and to provide space so the sheriff's office can drop off animals collected by county animal control officers. County officials said the sheriff's office has five animal control officers who serve unincorporated areas and that the operations of each shelter remain the responsibility of the local operator under the IGAs.

Supervisors also said the city of Douglas has asked for additional funding for shelter operations and that the county will discuss that request as part of upcoming budget conversations. Staff said they will meet with the sheriff's office to determine how to handle any new funding requests and will report back to the board.

The discussion was preliminary; supervisors did not take formal action but signaled the issue may require a future work session or budget request.