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To the Editor,
Are you happy with the way the Hancock County Commission is operating your animal shelter?
When the Hancock County Commission took over operation of the county animal shelter, they promised to operate the shelter better than the nonprofit which previously operated the county shelter for 20 years.
County residents assumed "BETTER" meant reduced expense to the taxpayer and better treatment being provided to the animals. Below is what actually is happening.
Below are 2021 Animal Shelter facts based on county documents.
1. 1,528 new animals entered the animal shelter. Prior to the county takeover, the shelter rescued about 2,100 per year.
2. 133 animals died at the shelter for a 8.7% death rate. The last year the nonprofit operated the shelter the death rate was about 5%.
3. In 2021, an additional 59 animals were released "into the wild." What happens to these predominantly household pets when released "Into The Wild?"
4. Over $674,464 was spent at the Animal Shelter in 2021. Prior to the takeover, the commission offered $188,000 to the nonprofit to continue to operate the shelter. This means taxpayers paid an additional $486,464 to have the commission operate the county shelter in 2021. By the way, the nonprofit agreed to the commission offer and the commission still wouldn't sign the standard shelter operation contract used for over a decade.
Since the takeover of the animal shelter by the Hancock County Commission, over $1.5 million additional tax dollars has been spent operating the the shelter. The Commission also has spent over $1.5 million from its "Rainy Day Fund." Is this a coincidence?
This year, Commission President Paul Cowey, is up for re-election. Again, Are you happy with the way the Hancock County Commission is operating your animal shelter? I believe we should give someone else a chance to make it "BETTER" at the animal shelter.
Rudy Rosnick
Weirton