Lawrence County Humane Society Severs Ties With County

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA —In a letter written by the Lawrence County Humane Society Board, the Open Arms Animal Shelter has discontinued their relationship with the Lawrence County Fiscal Court.

“With much sadness and a heavy heart,” the Lawrence County Humane Society is announcing effective May 1, that the Open Arms Animal Shelter will no longer be the shelter for the Lawrence County Fiscal Court. After 29 years, we have terminated our relationship with the county.

Also, Board Member Leonica Allen explained that some people thought the county owned the building but they don’t. “The property was deeded to the Lawrence County Humane Society Board for an animal shelter,” Allen said. “The county was paying us $1,833.34 per month to take their animals. There was no set amount that they could bring and there was no contract. We had a different set up with Magoffin County until they built their own shelter. With Magoffin County, there was a contract and they paid us $500 per month plus so much per animal and they could only bring in so many cats or dogs each week. We now have a cat building set up so we can take in more cats. Lawrence County wouldn’t do a contract.”

You may wonder why we made this decision. In February, we found out the county had set up a shelter in the voting building at the entrance to the county garage on Highway 32. The county did not tell us. We heard it from a cashier at Wal-Mart. We contacted the Judge’s office for clarification and were told by the Assistant Judge Executive it was for overflow when the Open Arms Shelter was full. Since that time, we met with the County Judge Executive and had hoped we could work things out. No animals are being brought to us although we have contacted the county and the warden on several occasions and told them we have room. We had been told if we don’t bring you any animals, we can’t pay you.

We have provided animal sheltering services to the Lawrence County Fiscal Court for 29 years. During this time, we have worked with several County Judge Executives, Animal Control Officers and Magistrates. For the past 29 years, we have received $1,833.34 a month, with which we expected to operate the shelter, pay the bills, employ workers, and do maintenance on the buildings and property. In 2022, it took almost $130,000 to operate the shelter and this would have not been possible had we not received the support of our local community, rescue partners and individuals from all over the country. Thank you for always supporting us and trusting us to take care of the unwanted animals in this county.

We are still a functioning shelter with animals in our care. It is in our best interest to move on from this partnership due to lack of respect and communication. We will continue to take animals from Lawrence County citizens. “We will also need to make up the $1,833.34 a month we no longer receive from the county. We appreciate everyone’s support and hope you will continue to stand with us and support us so we can continue to help the voiceless animals of Lawrence County,” the letter written by the Lawrence County Humane Society’s Board of Directors said.

“This letter was written by the Board of Directors, not me personally, and was approved by all.” Allen said.

Lawrence County Animal Control Officer Jess Perry wrote a letter in response to what the humane society had written about the discontinued partnership between the county and their organization.

Perry said in her response that she nor the Lawrence County Judge Executive had ill intentions towards the local shelter, but they could not leave animals with no place to go.

“I have not used Open Arms/Lawrence County Humane Society’s shelter since March. However, the shelter still received the county’s monthly donation until they decided to no longer provide services,” Perry said in her letter. “The Lawrence County Judge Executive and I wish them the best and respect their decision. We were forced to get a shelter because there was never room at their shelter and we had no place to take the animals. It was only open limited hours and had been taking other counties strays.”

Perry said that her office and the Lawrence County Judge Executive’s office decided to use the county’s prior voting building to house the animals that she picks up.

“I receive calls daily about stray animals needing to have a place to go so the decision was made to pick them up, get them to the local Vet for assessment and treatment (if necessary) and hold them at the Poorhouse location until adoptions can be held. The fees from the adoptions help fund the shelter costs,” Perry said in the letter. “The building is still being worked on but I feel it is a safe place for the animals. They are happy, healthy and ready to find loving homes.”

Perry said that she had picked up three hounds on Feb. 27 and on March 13, and she was finally contacted and told she could bring the animals in but only three and she took them March 14.

“I took a cat to the shelter, which they sent to PetSmart to be adopted, on March 9th. On March 16th, I contacted the shelter regarding an injured boxer and the shelter agreed to take the boxer,” Perry said. “My office was not contacted again to bring in animals, aside from cats which I didn’t have any that were deemed adoptable, until 11 days before the Fiscal Court meeting on April 7th, just shortly before time for them to pick up their check.”

Perry said Animal control also took in a female hound with 8 puppies and the staff at Open Arms refused to open the gate and refused the animals, knowing they had room for the puppies, so their statement of the ACO turning down citizens is false.

It was never stated that our building is full and animals can’t be brought in, but I have had to tell people I would have to put them on a list to bring into the shelter once I was told the room was available to house them.

“I was having to house these animals at my personal residence due to the situation with the shelter never having room for the animals,” Perry said. “The building was being set up as a temporary holding facility. I and the Lawrence County Judge Executive, did have meetings to come to an agreement for both sides to work with one another. It was agreed upon that the shelter would take the animals from me and continue to receive the monthly donation. Also, it was stated that the shelter would need to figure out how to run their business and an offer was extended to the shelter to let the county assume control of it and apply for grants that the local government may be eligible to receive to help fund the shelter. That proposal was refused.”

Perry also said that the shelter failed to mention that on several occasions Carter has personally donated money to pay shelter bills, sponsored car shows to raise money, and asked for a quote on their septic problems so he could take care of it but was never given the information. In his first term as Lawrence County Judge Executive, a vehicle was donated and he has sent the road department to plow snow on their roads and provided free gravel.

“Regarding adoptions, it has been stated by several board members that the shelter would not adopt dogs out locally,” Perry said. “The shelter withheld adoptions to local citizens while having no problem asking for and taking local donations. That is not fair to the citizens of Lawrence County.”

Lawrence County Judge Executive Phillip Carter also issued a release in response to the Lawrence County Humane Society’s letter saying that he would like to state his position on the incident.

“At the request of the Lawrence County Humane Society, I was faced with getting a county animal shelter opened due to no room and limited availability for housing the animals that were picked up by the Animal Control Officer,” Carter said. “Pursuant to chapter 258 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, a governing body of each county is to have an animal shelter or contract with an entity to provide animal sheltering services that meet the minimum operating standards.”

Carter said in his response that his office received numerous complaints about the rudeness of the shelter employees, the shelter closed at 3 p.m., was not open on weekends and refused to do local adoptions. He also said that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture states that animal shelters provide access to the public for no less than 24-hours in one week, with the hours the facility is open to the public posted in a visible location and that was not being met.

“I have personally donated various times to support the local shelter. The county has donated time, labor and materials on numerous occasions to support the local shelter. In my meetings over the past few months with the Lawrence County Humane Society, I proposed to absorb the shelter and place it under county control to apply for grants available to local government, but that proposal was refused,” Carter said. “I believe the Lawrence County Humane Society post is not stating all the facts nor representing the truth. I must provide the needed services to the residents of Lawrence County. I am grateful for the Lawrence County Humane Society/Open Arms Shelter commitment to our county, their hard work and service. I am saddened that an amicable agreement cannot be met.”