Perry County commissioners asked to create restricted fund for cat spay/neuter after humane society warns of insolvency

A county representative on the Perry County Animal Control Board urged county commissioners to create a restricted county fund to support spay/neuter and trap‑neuter‑release work after the local humane society said it has spent down its reserves.

The county representative, speaking during the meeting's public-comment portion, said the humane society has spent about $6,000 so far this year on spay/neuter services and roughly $5,000 last year and warned the group could be dissolved within two years if outside support is not found. "We cannot continue to work out the money we're doing without help," the county representative said.

The speaker asked commissioners to authorize creation of a restricted county fund that would accept donations from businesses, civic groups and residents and be used exclusively for cat population management activities. The speaker said the fund would be overseen by the animal control board under commissioner supervision and could be dissolved when the problem is under control.

Commissioners discussed an existing animal-related restricted fund maintained through the clerk's office that currently receives some revenues, and suggested the animal control board submit a formal letter or consensus vote requesting a new restricted fund or a renaming/restriction of the existing fund. The meeting chair and other commissioners said county counsel and accounting staff would review the request and that the commissioners could set up a restricted account if legal and accounting review found no barrier.

The county representative said they had already asked local business leaders and the chamber of commerce to seek donations and wanted a fund in place quickly to accept pledged money. Commissioners encouraged the animal control board to bring a formal letter from the board confirming its request and to route the proposal through legal and accounting for setup; commissioners suggested that could be completed by the last quarter of the year.

No formal vote to create the fund was taken at the meeting; commissioners did indicate they saw no legal barrier to creating a restricted fund pending formal request and review.

The representative also asked whether an individual appointed last year, Adam Hoffman, could sit on the animal control board if he remains willing to serve; commissioners indicated acceptance if he is willing and remains appointed.