Animal shelter expands partnerships, volunteer programs and deferred‑maintenance work

Vanessa Forbes, the borough’s recently hired animal shelter director, briefed the assembly April 9 on shelter operations, volunteer partnerships and deferred‑maintenance priorities.

Forbes said the shelter has expanded partnerships with local veterinary technician programs, area cities (Wasilla, Palmer and Houston) for mutual sheltering support, and local rescues and foster networks that increase live outcomes and reduce shelter length of stay. She described Miles & Mutts, a volunteer dog‑walking and enrichment program launched last May that logged 234 walks in the past year and generated the shelter’s first ‘‘Miles & Mutts’’ adoption.

Maintenance and program goals Forbes listed deferred‑maintenance priorities including mold remediation of dog‑area rooms, upgrades at the onsite clinic and crematory reliability improvements. She said the shelter will pursue expanded community engagement and education (including spay/neuter clinics and disaster preparedness for pets), work to increase adoption‑support and post‑adoption counseling, and continue recruiting foster homes and volunteer adoption counselors.

Budget and staffing Forbes said the proposed budget holds staffing level steady from the prior year with adjustments for cost‑of‑living changes; she indicated partnerships and volunteer programming are key to increasing shelter capacity without large permanent staffing increases.

Next steps Forbes said she will continue to prioritize clinic and facility repair work, roll out additional volunteer and education programs and explore spay/neuter clinic options with partners.