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Hamilton health department reports progress on accreditation; shelter seeks volunteer coordinator amid prolonged overcapacity
Summary
At the Aug. 20 Board of Health update, Director Kathy Fitzgerald and shelter manager Danielle Gioia described steps toward accreditation, community health planning and an overcapacity animal shelter. Staff said about $15,000 in ARP funds covered off-site boarding and urged more volunteer recruitment.
Hamilton Township health officials briefed the Board of Health and council on Aug. 20 about accreditation work, community health planning and persistent animal-shelter overcrowding.
Director Kathy Fitzgerald opened the health report and invited residents to review the division’s annual report and animal-shelter statistics. The division is pursuing national accreditation and preparing documents for submission; staff said they are finalizing updated plans and identifying backup documentation to meet the department’s stated deadlines.
The health officer highlighted workforce-development work and said local partnerships have produced a $1,000 INJACCHO scholarship awarded to Hamilton student Juliana Gharaji. The division also described outreach and prevention work, including an upcoming Overdose Awareness Day event on Aug. 29 and scheduled wellness walks.
Shelter manager Danielle Gioia gave a detailed operational update and spoke plainly about capacity constraints. As of July 31, Gioia said the shelter recorded 286 intakes in the first seven months of 2024, with 133 adoptions, 101 returns to owners, eight transfers to rescue partners and 15 humane euthanasias. "We are currently at 94.2 percent live release," she said.
Gioia described the shelter’s on-site population as 55 dogs (49 at the facility, four off-site) and 74 cats (54 in the shelter, 20 in foster care). The shelter has 36 kennels; multiple dogs are crated in other areas because of overcapacity. She said boarding some dogs off-site between late June and Labor Day has cost "about $15,000," funded from remaining ARP dollars assigned to health operations.
To address staffing and volunteer gaps, Gioia and council members discussed creating a part-time volunteer-coordinator role to recruit and retain volunteers, relieve day-to-day burdens on shelter staff and run orientations and outreach. Gioia described outreach plans that include adoption events, in-person tabling, radio/YouTube segments and partnerships with local businesses; she said the shelter has been waiving adoption fees periodically to promote placements.
The health officer and staff also reviewed preventive guidance for respiratory viruses and seasonal risks, reminded residents about flu and pneumonia vaccination clinics (with clinic schedules to be posted online), and noted the next rabies clinic on Nov. 12 at the McManamon Building by appointment.
Council members asked for follow-up on the volunteer-coordinator hiring timeline and for regular updates on shelter metrics. Staff said they are interviewing candidates and hope to fill the role soon. The Board closed the health update and the council reconvened to continue other agenda items.
The board did not take formal legislative action on any shelter-specific ordinance during the meeting; staff were asked to return with updates as hiring and outreach plans develop.
