The Evansville Board of Public Works on Dec. 26 unanimously approved an agreement with Best Friends Animal Society that will place an embedded, grant-funded support person at the city’s animal shelter to help reach a target 90% live-animal save rate.

Todd, the presenter, said the program grew out of an on-site assessment and an earlier joint grant venture with VHS. He told the board that Best Friends “will provide us a support person that will come into us and be here for 6 months to help bring forth,” and that “they pay the person and they’re relocating this person to our city.” The organization’s support will include education and operational recommendations for staff and local rescue partners.

The agreement follows a Best Friends assessment of Evansville Animal Care and Control and staff. Todd said Best Friends typically works with private agencies but chose Evansville after noting local staff and rescue-group efforts; the grant covers the embedded position’s salary and relocation costs, though no dollar amount was provided in the meeting.

Board members moved and seconded a motion to approve the agreement; the vote was recorded as "Aye" and the motion passed. The chair noted the board would receive follow-up reports as the program progresses.

The board also handled routine business before adjourning. It approved bills and payrolls by voice vote and voted to adjourn at 1:35 p.m.

The agreement does not list a public dollar amount or an exact start date for the embedded support person in the meeting record. Todd said VHS (referred to in the meeting as Vandenberg Humane Society) was involved in an earlier joint venture and assessment but is not a partner in this specific Best Friends agreement.