Commissioners grant animal control access to remaining TNR funds as volunteer vet pulls back

DeKalb County commissioners voted May 26 to authorize the animal control officer to use $6,000 remaining in the county’s TNR account to continue trap‑neuter‑release services after the county’s prior veterinary partner signaled it would no longer operate in the county.

The animal control officer had asked whether the county would permit transporting cats to established providers and invoicing the county directly. Commissioners and staff discussed options, including sending cats to a private clinic in Auburn or to Humane Fort Wayne; staff said the TNR program remains governed by the county ordinance and that veterinarians performing the work qualify under that ordinance so long as the animals are from unincorporated addresses.

"Do we want our animal control officer to have access to the $6,000 to continue TNR with cats?" a commissioner asked. After discussion—during which commissioners acknowledged the county had already spent and transferred funds to several providers—the board moved and voted to give the animal control officer access to the account. The motion passed 3‑0.

Commissioners also discussed larger animal‑welfare funding and whether to increase annual TNR appropriations; one commissioner proposed increasing the TNR line from $8,000 to $10,000 for the next budget year, and the board asked staff to revisit numbers in future budget work.

Staff said ongoing casework and several large animal hoarding incidents have increased demand on animal control resources and that the county has appropriated other emergency funding to partner organizations this year.