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Residents press Clermont County commissioners over animal-shelter practices during public comment
Summary
Multiple volunteers and residents told the commissioners Oct. 23 that shelter policies and operations — including transfer approvals, medication access and intake practices — are harming animals and volunteers, and urged an RFP or outside management and a county-led focus group.
Multiple residents used the Clermont County Board of Commissioners’ public-comment period Oct. 23 to accuse shelter management of inconsistent transfer policies, gaps in medication access for foster animals and poor recordkeeping, and to urge the board to take more active oversight or seek outside management.
During a roughly two-hour public-comment segment, speakers identified as foster volunteers and long-time community volunteers described instances they said showed systemic problems at the county shelter. Stephanie Freeborn said volunteers had previously moved “about 150 dogs into rescues” without board approval, and that an email from shelter staff member Angie Livsey later stated transfers would require board approval. Freeborn asked whether Claire Cochran and other commissioners had been involved in denying a transfer of a dog named Bordeaux; Cochran responded during public comment: “There was no consultation whatsoever with the other commissioners. It had to do with the direction of of, Angie telling her she could not do it, and I backed up Angie.”
Kathleen Faulkner, who identified herself as a shelter volunteer and foster, described a separate incident in which staff allegedly refused to intake an injured puppy during below-freezing weather and said poor documentation left adopters and rescuers unsure which vaccinations animals had received. “You failed that dog,” Faulkner told the commissioners, referencing an occasion when she said she had to take the animal home after staff declined intake.
Several commenters urged the board to open a request-for-proposals process for outside operators, to hold a focused crisis meeting with volunteers and commissioners, and to expand public outreach and fundraising support. Diaz Smith asked the commissioners to “give the okay for a focus group where we can come up with solutions,” and urged greater social-media engagement and volunteer recruitment from schools and community groups.
Chris Hicks read a letter from Melissa Allen that criticized the board’s handling of the shelter, questioned why previous executive-session work had not been transparent, and criticized a policy described in the letter requiring commissioners’ personal approval for rescue transfers. Hicks said an earlier RFP existed and urged the board to move quickly to solicit outside management if warranted.
The board did not engage in debate during the public-comment period; the presiding officer reminded speakers that the board does not answer questions or debate matters brought forward during public participation. No formal actions or votes on shelter management were taken during the meeting.
What was said and next steps
Speakers called for immediate steps including clearer transfer protocols, faster access to medically necessary medications for fostered animals, improved recordkeeping for vaccines and releases, and a county-hosted focus group that includes volunteers and commissioners. Several speakers also requested the board authorize an RFP for outside management or operation of the shelter; at least one commenter said she did not see such an RFP on the meeting agenda.
The board did not announce any immediate procedural changes or set a date for a focus group during the Oct. 23 session. Under the board’s stated rules, public-comment remarks do not constitute a board direction without a subsequent agenda item or formal motion.
Quotes
“There was no consultation whatsoever with the other commissioners. It had to do with the direction of of, Angie telling her she could not do it, and I backed up Angie,” Claire Cochran said in response to a volunteer’s question about an individual transfer decision.
“You failed that dog,” Kathleen Faulkner said of a shelter intake she described as mishandled.
“I have watched and taped versions of the meetings… I am at a loss for understanding as to why you have taken the position with the shelter that you have,” a letter read by Chris Hicks on behalf of Melissa Allen said, criticizing the board’s approach and urging transparency.
Ending
Public commenters asked the board to convene a focused meeting and consider an RFP or other options for shelter management. The board closed the public-comment period without debate or action; any formal consideration of shelter operations would need to appear as an agenda item at a future meeting.
