Animal lovers filled the room at CK Newsome Center Wednesday night (1/15/24) to talk about ways to approach the problem of overcrowding at the Evansville Animal Care and Control Center

Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry opened the meeting by telling the crowd, “This is important. I hear you.” She closed one hour and fifteen minutes later, saying, “This is just the beginning.” In between, the crowd heard from the people who are on the front lines from It Takes a Villiage, Vanderburgh Humane Society, PAAWS, and Evansville Animal Care and Control.

Lynn Miller Pease of Leadership Evansville facilitated the meeting along with her dog, Clark. Please read written questions from audience members for the panelists.

Animal Control brings in 3,000 to 4,000 dogs each year, and the Vanderburgh Humane Society reports that over the years, they have improved their live release rate from 40% to 93%.

Discussion of root causes

Lack of awareness of the Animal Care and Control Center is a problem because many people don’t realize that the center is where they should check if their pet is missing.

People lack the funds to continue taking care of their existing pets or are unable to afford to adopt a rescue animal.

A major issue is that there is a shortage of veterinarians nationwide. The shortage has resulted in higher costs and much longer wait times for getting a pet spayed or neutered.

People often surrender their pets when they move and they encounter landlords that don’t allow pets.

Some of the proposed solutions

National experts say that the overcrowding problem would be virtually eliminated if there was a 6% increase in the number of people adopting shelter dogs.

Raising public awareness would help more people know where to go if their pet is missing and increase adoptions.

Changing the stray hold times would allow dogs to be moved to a no-kill shelter sooner and free up kennels at ACC. Other cities in Indiana, like Ft. Wayne, South Bend, and Indianapolis, have a three-day hold on strays.

Changing state restrictions on vets would help free up time and allow vets to treat more animals.

Increasing the number of volunteers was also stated as a need at all of the shelters.

Getting help from the outside

Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal rights group, consults for animal shelters and communities across the country. They recently visited ACC in Evansville and are going to help the Center and will send a consultant to spend time helping the Center and the community develop solutions.

Second Ward City Council member Missy Mosby is working on plans to establish an Animal Control Foundation saying, “We have a police foundation and a fire foundation, why wouldn’t it work for animal control?”

Those wishing to donate now can give to the Spirit Medical Fund. https://cityofevansvillein.munisselfservice.com/css/citizens/OtherServices/ViewDetails.aspx

City-County Observer will continue to raise awareness and support the adoption of shelter animals.