Tri-State Pet Rescue made an official offer to take over operations of the county Animal Control facility this week.Speaking at the board of commissioners’ meeting on behalf of Tri-State, Dr. William Mitchell presented a proposal to the board for Tri-State to assume operations of the facility. The move comes after months of public outcry over alleged mishandling of Animal Control by the county. Notably, citizens repeatedly criticized the county for mishandling animals, in one case prematurely euthanizing.

During the February BOC meeting, Tri-State Operator Jan Eaton told a story of two animals euthanized after she informed Animal Control that she would pick the animals up following the day of notification. Eaton is hailed as one of the more outspoken critics of the county’s handling of Animal Control and verbally offered for Tri-State to take over the operations numerous times, arguing her organization could run Animal Control with less money than the county. For FY13, the county allocates over $200,000 for Animal Control.

However, from the podium this week Mitchell seemed to contrast Eaton’s argument.

“The organization never publicly or at any time said we were going to save the county money,”

Mitchell said, adding,

“(But) we will make every effort to do so.”

Although the contrast may be a semantic argument, that is, Eaton speaking individually on her behalf and not as a representative of Tri-State’s, Post Two Commissioner Larry Joe Sosebee noted that saving the county money was one of Tri-State’s main talking points to take over Animal Control.

Dr. Mitchell explained the contract was drafted only recently and that the commissioners still needed time to review it. Based on the proposal, Tri-State will staff Animal Control with paid personnel or volunteers. Also, the proposal states Tri-State will be responsible for all applicable state and federal social security benefits and, unemployment taxes, indemnifying and protecting the county against these liabilities. Additionally, it sets guidelines for euthanizing.

“Contractor, as agent for the county, may place an unclaimed animal which has been impounded for 72 hours or more, up for adoption, placement with a foster family or effect the disposition in a humane fashion,”

it says. It goes on to say Tri-State is allowed to dispose of sick, diseased, injured, or feral animals any time following impoundment.

“There is no minimum holding period in such cases,”

it continues,

“as long as the disposition is to relieve the animal of suffering, to prevent the spread of disease, or to secure the safety and welfare of the contractor’s staff, the public, (or) to the other animals in the shelter.”

During his presentation, Mitchell went on to say the proposal does not change funding, saying it uses the funding the board has already approved and divides it. According to Exhibit A of the proposal, Tri-State’s total expenses would be $161,595.99, against the county’s current total expenses for Animal Control of $212,644, with a difference of $51,048.01.

“What I will hope for is this,”

he said,

“that they (the commissioners) will look at it and see that what we have spelled out is fair, honest, and just.”

The commissioners said they would have the county attorney review the document, but did not say when the board would vote on the proposal. The next board of commissioners’ meeting is scheduled for May 14th at 5:15 P.M. at the Fannin County Courthouse.