Letter to the Editor

Humane Society offers updates

To the Editor

The GCHS would like to update the public as to the misinformation it has most recently received. Since 2005, the GCHS has been operating with consistency and professionalism. Our hours of operation have been widely published online, and in local media. Times are available on our answering machine and also posted on the main entrance of our building.

The GCHS functions on a small and very strict budget of $100k annually. 27.8% of our operating budget is allotted from the county. As any business person would know budgets include; payroll and liabilities, insurances, workman's comp, utilities, building/ground maintenance, and all supplies.

Late 2009, the GCHS hosted a meeting with County Law Enforcement, Mayors, Commissioners and County Budget members to address our inability to subsidize animal control, and the legality to do so for the county. In addition, the Greene County Animal Ordinance, its enforcement, and the Animal Control Commission were dropped from the county's budget for fiscal year 2006. Several archived links can be found at the online Daily World website, where this has been consistently reported since 2001. Furthermore, the Indiana code does not mandate local governments to enforce or maintain animal control ordinances.

Our policy for euthanasia has been modeled after other shelters throughout Indiana, and recommendations from veterinarians. The GCHS will and does utilize euthanasia when there are considerable health and behavioral concerns regarding an animal in our care. The GCHS does not euthanize for space. Pets placed for adoption do not run out of time. Lastly, Animal Rescue Organizations often work in tandem with local shelters pulling hard to place pets, animals with special needs or those running out of time. Unfortunately, nothing like that has ever existed in Greene County.

Greene County Humane Society

Director: Rene Abram