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Residents, volunteers press Macon County to bolster Animal Services after staffing shortfalls
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged Macon County to strengthen Animal Services staffing, grant enforcement authority, and consider organizational changes; rescue and volunteer representatives described heavy caseloads and gaps in response.
Public commenters at the Feb. 11 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting urged immediate changes to Animal Services, citing staffing shortages, enforcement gaps and heavy reliance on volunteers and nonprofits.
Tamara Zwinak described a recent gas leak near her Siler Road home and asked the board to consider a resident warning system; while that comment focused on emergency notification, the meeting’s public-comment period was dominated by concerns about animals and shelter operations. Dr. Joann Roesner said the county needs “a functional animal control department with adequate staffing and an open door for public comment,” referencing a letter she had previously sent to board members.
Several speakers—many volunteers or affiliated with local rescues—detailed operational strains. Ashley Higgs, manager of Appalachian Animal Rescue, said the rescue’s seven staff care for roughly 105 animals and “I cannot do my job without Animal Control,” describing cases of dog aggression and alleged animal abuse that the rescue does not handle because they are enforcement matters. Volunteer Betsy Baste said there are only a few regular dog-walking volunteers and suggested the Macon County Sheriff’s Office might improve compliance; she added she would be open to a nonprofit running shelter operations with full county support.
Other commenters described unmet enforcement needs and difficult shelter conditions. Elizabeth Short said she had sought help for two months about a dangerous dog without a response; volunteer Robert Malenson described only “three or four” regular dog-walking volunteers and urged the board to consider more timely euthanasia decisions for animals in prolonged distress. Autumn Lucas urged pride in county animal care, saying the joy of interacting with animals is being lost as volunteers are diverted to cleaning and maintenance work.
The board did not take action on animal-service structural changes during the meeting; presenters and volunteers asked commissioners to pursue clearer enforcement authority for Animal Control officers, consider staffing and funding changes, and evaluate whether nonprofit partnership models could relieve operational pressure. Several speakers also requested clearer public communication from the county about steps being taken.
The board’s next agenda-setting and budget discussions are expected to inform staffing and funding decisions during the FY2025–26 budget process.
