County Approves BG/Warren Humane Society To House Animals For Now, New Dog Warden To Be Named

Judge Executive Wil Cannon discusses the animal shelter situation at today's fiscal court meeting.

Darren Doyle, story and photo
The Edmonson County Fiscal Court voted today to sign a temporary agreement with the Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society Animal Shelter through December 31 of this year at a rate of $1250 per month.

The contract would be for the housing of dogs only, and would not include a dog warden or animal control officer. Judge Cannon said that the Humane Society had been very proactive with trying to help Edmonson County since the closure of the shelter owned by Kim Carroll on June 3, 2016.

Edmonson County's previously dissolved animal shelter contract was in the amount of $30K per year. The plan now is to pay BG/WC Humane Society's animal shelter $15K per year for shelter services only and contract someone locally for another $15K per year to be the animal control agent.

"We need to sign an agreement through December to see if the price is going to work with the Humane Society after we see how many county dogs have been sheltered," said Judge Cannon. "There's no way of estimating that right now."

A phone call to the Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society was not immediately returned.

Cannon said that the agreement would also require the shelter to follow all laws, keep very detailed records, insurance for employees, and contain language that would relieve the county from liability. The agreement would be renegotiated in December.

Cannon also said that the court is currently researching requirements for a dog warden, although state law has labeled the position as an "animal control officer." Cannon said Edmonson County will name the position either "dog warden" or "Dog control personnel" because the person will only be responsible for the pick up of dogs and no other animals, and that the term "officer" suggests law enforcement capabilities, in which the position will not have.

The Judge also read a list of requirements that have been assembled so far that include but are not limited to: Compassion for animals, industry standard transportation for dogs, exercising self control when dealing with public, euthanasia qualifications, a tax identification number, and other specific requirements to be finalized.

According to Cannon, there are currently two different people interested in the job. The court agreed to hold a private special meeting for the purpose of filling the position on July 25, 2016 at 4pm. A night fiscal court meeting is scheduled for 6pm on the same day.