County shelter reports strong adoption weekend, resumes volunteer orientations and introduces new kennel director

Clermont County officials on April 2 reported a surge in animal adoptions following a temporary reduction in adoption fees and introduced new kennel leadership.

Clermont County kennel staff told the Board of Commissioners the shelter recorded 39 adoptions in March, with 11 occurring on one Saturday. Angie (staff), speaking for the kennel, said the fee reduction helped reduce on‑site volume; the shelter currently had 37 animals on site at the time of the meeting.

"We had a total of 39 adoptions in March, 11 of which happened on Saturday alone," the kennel representative said. Staff said volunteer orientations will resume this weekend and asked community volunteers for patience as they manage a high number of orientation signups.

The board also introduced Kiara Swartz as the new kennel administrator/shelter director. Swartz joins the county from Brown County, where she served in shelter operations and humane enforcement roles; she holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Wilmington College and lives in Clermont County. Commissioners thanked interim leadership for stabilizing the shelter while new management settled in.

Why it matters: County officials framed the adoption numbers and resumed orientations as evidence the temporary fee change helped place animals and reduce on‑site population; new leadership may affect shelter operations and volunteer coordination going forward.

Ending: Commissioners praised staff for the progress and said the county remains committed to operating the shelter and placing animals into permanent homes.