Best Friends Animal Society begins embedded program with Evansville shelter; commission signals interest in ordinance changes

Best Friends Animal Society has begun an embedded assistance program at the Evansville shelter, the nonprofit’s senior manager told the Animal Control and Education Commission, and commissioners discussed whether changes to local ordinance or court procedures could shorten the time animals are held during prosecutions.

Richard Angelo, senior manager of national embedded programming at Best Friends, said the organization placed an on-site expert, Susie Clayton, with city shelter staff and has brought field and veterinary teams to provide training and operational assessments. "We bring in the experts to be able to say here's how we can do things a little bit better or tweak this and that in order to make things, somewhat better," Angelo said.

Angelo further said the program has already identified shelter capacity impacts related to cases that tie animals to pending court outcomes. "We are tracking these court cases and the animals that are unavailable. Susie sends me a daily list and updates it and it's, I mean, you have over 40 animals in that shelter that can go nowhere right now because of these things," he said. He added that the total population in the shelter is "between 80 and a 100 animals," meaning legally unavailable animals occupy substantial kennel space.

Why it matters: Staff and commission members said lengthy court processes and waiting periods after guilty findings can keep animals in shelter custody for months, reducing space for other incoming animals and increasing operations strain. Angelo offered Best Friends’ experience drafting model dangerous-dog ordinances and other municipal guidance and offered to assist local drafting.

Commissioners discussed avenues to reduce hold time, including using bonds, altered hearing procedures and clearer post-conviction responsibilities for owners so kennels are not occupied while someone is under an order to forfeit animal custody. A commission member told colleagues she planned to compile draft language for a future meeting; staff said they would consult with Best Friends on model ordinances and legislative templates.

Animal-control staff praised the partnership. "They’re working so, so hard," Angelo said of the local shelter team, and Animal Control Superintendent Alisa Webster said the shelter had just reopened its cat room and completed an adoption the prior day.

Ending: Best Friends will continue the embedded program for roughly six months, Angelo said, and offered to share model ordinance language and technical assistance as the commission examines potential changes to local procedures and codes.