Carbon County animal-shelter director reports on kennel upgrades, recent bite and crash cases; commission approves minutes and agenda change

The Carbon County Animal Shelter Advisory Commission received an operations report from Director Tom Connors, discussed recent animal incidents and facility upgrades, approved February minutes by voice vote and voted to fold facility-upgrade updates into the director's report on future agendas.

Tom Connors reported the shelter had 16 kennels and summarized donations and intake figures for February and March. He said February food donations totaled $3,624 (including $500 in fresh pack) and supplies valued at $1,143; March food donations totaled $3,150 and supplies $902. Kennel counts and movement included 14 dogs at the start of February and 22 at month's end; March began with 22 dogs and ended with 17. Adoptions were four in each month; owner surrenders were one in February and one in March. Connors said the shelter responded to nine police calls in February (six after-hours) and eight police calls in March (seven after-hours).

"That dog currently is at our facility. It's on a 10 day hold," Connors said of an animal placed under quarantine after an attack. He said the shelter is holding the dog at the request of the Weatherly police department because the department prefers the facility to keep the animal for the 10-day quarantine rather than retain it at the department. "We're holding it as a courtesy to the police department because they don't want this dog running on the street," Connors said. He added staff are not handling the dog except to move it within the kennel for safety.

Connors said the 10-day quarantine is required by state law for potential rabies exposures. He described the shelter's process: at any time during the quarantine the owner may reclaim the dog, sign paperwork and pay associated boarding charges; if the owner does not reclaim the animal, the owner remains responsible for decisions after the quarantine period, including veterinary arrangements. Connors also described other recent responses: two huskies struck by a car (one transported to an emergency veterinary hospital) and four dogs removed from a condemned Lansford house and surrendered by their owner.

On facilities, Connors said interior work is advancing: the reception floor was completed in March and new kennel doors were installed late March, with additional doors ordered and a donor covering the cost. A shed will receive electrical work and barriers have been installed around an outside HVAC unit; Connors also noted a roof leak in the kennel area remains to be repaired when weather permits.

Commission members briefly discussed the improvements and thanked maintenance staff. The commission unanimously approved the February minutes by voice vote and voted to change the agenda format so facility-upgrade items will appear under the director's report going forward. The meeting adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for June 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. at 44 Susquehanna Street.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve the February minutes: approved by voice vote (all in favor; names not recorded in the meeting minutes). - Motion to change future agendas to include facility upgrades under the director's report: approved by voice vote (all in favor; names not recorded). - Motion to adjourn: approved by voice vote.

Ending: The commission did not take additional formal action on intake or adoption policy during the meeting; Connors said staff will continue to follow existing county policy on quarantine and dangerous-animal handling and will bring any policy changes back to a future meeting.