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| Animal facility plans to focus on customer service |
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Critics say new management lacks experience at shelters
By MATT HAGENGRUBER Of The Gazette Staff The people running the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter don't like to use the word "takeover," but that's what they are in the midst of doing with the city-owned animal shelter.On Sunday, the city will hand over the shelter keys to YVAS Executive Director Jack Nickels, and the shelter will open its doors Monday under new leadership, expanded hours and what the YVAS says will be a focus on customer service. Between now and then, phone lines will be changed, computers will be installed and a new set of rules will be in place to separate the shelter from the city-run Animal Control Division, which is just down the hallway from Nickels' office. Five animal control officers respond to animal calls in the city. "This is a public-private partnership," Nickels said. "People don't like change, but I think this is a good change for everyone." Nickels, his deputy Nicole Thompson and two shelter employees will be the core of a private organization running a publicly owned animal shelter. Three of the four YVAS employees are new. The transition is the result of years of debate and negotiations. Nickels said the YVAS will focus on recruiting volunteers, expanding contact with other animal groups and veterinarians and reducing the number of animals that must be euthanized. On Thursday, the shelter housed 73 animals, some of which had been there for months. One of Nickels' main goals is for the shelter to be more friendly to the public, which he said leads to a shelter that euthanizes animals less often. "It's a facility that sees the number of animals that can't find a home or must be euthanized almost down to zero," Nickels said. "First, we'll have more hours and more days. Secondly, we'll work at creating a foster program and trying to work with animal rescue groups." In September, the City Council voted 6-3 to award a two-year contract to YVAS. The contract required the YVAS to take over within 180 days and to provide a letter of credit for more than $235,000 in case the city must take back control of the shelter. The city will pay YVAS $235,532 in the first year and $240,673 in the second, and the YVAS will earn revenue from adoptions, licenses and other fees. The idea of privatizing the city animal shelter goes back several years and led to a study in 2006 by the Police Department, which is in charge of animal control and sheltering. Study author Lisa Posada-Griffin wrote that the city did a good job in providing for the animals and serving the public. "However, providing these services has resulted in a long history of discord," Posada-Griffin wrote. "Problems with management, operating practices, communication and public perception are key issues that need to be addressed." Former Councilwoman Joy Stevens pushed for privatization and then founded the YVAS. She has since resigned from the YVAS and the council and moved to Wyoming, but not before the organization submitted its plan to run the shelter. Stevens' involvement in the matter earned her criticism from other animal groups in the area, many of which have disagreements among themselves and are critical of the YVAS. They say the YVAS will rely too heavily on volunteers, and that Nickels and Thompson don't have any shelter experience. "I don't think that's a legitimate concern," Nickels said. "I come from an agricultural background and have taken care of sick animals. Have I done it in a shelter? No." Nickels ran a cattle ranch in northeastern Montana for nearly 30 years and has been involved with nonprofit groups just as long. Thompson has a degree in animal science and has worked for veterinarians. The YVAS has hired Christy Dworshak and Faye Pegar to work at the shelter, too. Dworshak worked for the city-run shelter, and Pegar has worked at a local pet retailer. In making the switch to the YVAS, the city laid off two shelter employees. Dworshak was hired by the YVAS, and the other employee did not try for other city employment, officials said. Animal control supervisor Dave Klein will still be in charge of the city's animal control officers, and former shelter manager Fred McCracken is nearing retirement. The YVAS employees are already spending their days at the shelter, learning from Dworshak and animal control staff. Nickels said animal control officers will be able to spend more time in the field once YVAS handles the shelter. Deputy Police Chief Tim O'Connell is working on the transition and said the changes will be significant. "Not having done this before, it takes some planning," O'Connell said. "There's going to be dust in the air for a while before it settles, but we know it's going to work out." Published on Friday, March 20, 2009. Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. |
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