NEW OVERSIGHT — As part of their meeting Thursday, Hancock County commissioners, Paul Cowey, Eron Chek, and Tommy Ogden, unanimously approved a proposal to allow the Jefferson County Humane Society to take over managerial oversight of the Hancock County Animal Shelter. Specific terms of the agreement still must be negotiated. -- Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND — The Jefferson County Humane Society will be bringing their services and efforts to help those without a voice into West Virginia, following a decision by Hancock County commissioners to have the Ohio-based organization manage the county’s animal shelter.

“We did receive one bid from the Jefferson County Humane Society,” explained Hancock Commission President Eron Chek during Thursday’s regular meeting. “It meets all of the requirements.”

Chek said specific terms for an agreement with the humane society still need to be negotiated.

Commissioners decided in July to seek out a non-profit organization to take over operations and management of the shelter located at 715 Gas Valley Road in New Cumberland, with the commission continuing to provide annually budgeted funds while the non-profit had opportunities for fundraising.

Commissioners went through two rounds of bids before Thursday’s vote, opting not to approve the lone bidder for the first attempt presented in August, and re-advertise.

Founded in 1915, the Jefferson County Humane Society was formed to be an advocate for animals in Jefferson County, Ohio, and, originally, the county’s children. The organization has managed Jefferson County’s animal shelter since 2010, with the county employing dog wardens and the Humane Society providing for other employees, as well as all aspects of care and other programs for animals at the shelter. In recent years, it has launched a veterinarian medical program for animals at the shelter which also offers low-cost medical services to the public

JCHS Development Manager Brandi DeNoon-Damewood explained members of their board of directors raised the idea of partnering with the Hancock County Commission as an opportunity to help even more of the Ohio Valley’s animals in need.

“We never see borders when it comes to saving animals,” she said, pointing to the programs which already have proven successful in Jefferson County and the possibility of bringing them into Hancock County while preserving some of those existing at the Hancock County Animal Shelter. “We don’t want to have competition or change everything.”

DeNoon-Damewood said, ultimately the goal is to help those animals looking for a home, while providing the care they need until that home is found.

According to their website, in 2024 the Humane Society took in 1,355 animals and found homes for 1,065 while returning 233 to their families. DeNoon-Damewood stated the average stay for a dog in Jefferson County has been 22 days from entry to adoption. She hopes to be able to bring similar results to Hancock County.

“It really makes me ready to roll my sleeves up and get to work,” she said.

Hancock Commissioner Tommy Ogden had been a proponent of searching for a non-profit managerial partner for the animal shelter following a series of personnel shifts and other issues there in recent months. Following Thursday’s meeting, he said he believes this new arrangement will be beneficial for everyone.

“Partnering with a non-profit, especially Jefferson County Humane Society, opens up so many opportunities and benefits that we as a county just can’t do our own,” Ogden said in an e-mailed statement. “I believe this partnership with JCHS will be a tremendous benefit to Hancock County’s animals and taxpayers alike and is a true win/win situation. Jefferson’s reputation, dedication, and proven track record speaks for itself. I can’t wait to see the benefits that develop from this partnership.”

This won’t be the first time for a non-profit to oversee the shelter.

The shelter previously was operated by the Hancock County Animal Shelter Foundation for 19 years. Those arrangements ended in 2016 after the foundation and previous county commissioners could not agree on terms for a new agreement.