KIRKSVILLE, MO -- There is very little the Adair County Sheriffs Office can do now when it comes to responding to animal calls. On February 15, the Adair County Humane Society (ACHS) Board of Directors unanimously voted to stop accepting stray animals from around the county. This coming after no agreement on funding was made between the Adair County Commissioners and Adair County Humane Society.
Since 2003, the Adair County Commissioners have given an annual donation of $1,500. With the economy the way that it is, ACHS Treasurer Jackie Eaton wrote a letter to Adair County Sheriff Bob Hardwick concerning an increase in funding from the county due to higher prices to keep the animals kenneled. That letter was sent out on June 27, 2010. Eaton said they wanted to make contact early so the commissioners would have ample time to look over and finalize their budget.
A second letter was sent on September 27, 2010, with similar concerns. After still not receiving a response, a third letter was sent out on October 24, 2010. Eaton said in that letter there was a detailed description on what the costs needed to be per each animal that they take in. The increase would add up to $80 per animal which breaks down as $70 for a week (max) and $10 for a required rabies shot.
The Adair County Humane Society then billed the county for $160 for the month of January; they received two animals during that time which equaled $80 for each. A deadline was set for the bill to be paid by February 15. After no check or response was made to any of the letters or the bill, the ACHS Board of Directors unanimously voted to no longer accept animals from the county.
Eaton said the commissioners made first contact with them on March 14, 2011. They received a letter which stated the commissioners have $1,500 to donate, but do not have money in their budget for what they requested.
When asked, Eaton declined to do an interview on camera.
KTVO also contacted the Adair County Commissioners Office and talked with Adair County Commissioner Carson Adams regarding the issue. When asked why there was never a response to any of the letters sent by the ACHS until March 14, Adams said Eaton and the rest of the ACHS Board have been extremely difficult to work with. Not once were they ever contacted directly; it was always through Adair County Sheriff Bob Hardwick. He stated they were invited to come in and plead their case in the commissioners office but have never shown up to do so.
Adams said each of the past eight years they have budgeted in $1,500 to donate to the ACHS. That donation is a one time annual expense which they mark off as “for services rendered”. Adams said they are willing to give $1,500 for this year, and have it budgeted in, but cannot pay anymore due to the tight budget. If the Adair County Humane Society wants to have the check, Carson said they can come pick it up at anytime, at the commissioner’s office.
When asked, Carson and the other two commissioners declined to do an interview on camera.
The Adair County Humane Society Board of Directors held a special meeting on February 21, 2011. During that meeting the commissioners and board of directors both had chances to plead their case. The board was sighted as saying: “We don’t understand why the county has ignored our correspondence.” Also in the minutes, it is written that, according to Carson Adams: “let farmers deal with animals their own way; bring the animals into town and let the City take care of them; and business as usual ($1,500 annual lump sum payment to ACHS.)”
After three days of discussion, the ACHS Board of Directors stated on February 24, 2011, “The Adair County Humane Society refuses the lump sum payment of $1,500 and will no longer take dogs from the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.”
According to the Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 322, Protection Against Rabies, Section 322.090 set on August 28, 2010, by law: “… the county commissioner is hereby empowered to adopt by order, rules and regulations which shall include provisions for licensing, catching, impounding, confinement, redemption and isolation and destruction of dogs; impounding isolation and destruction of other domestic animals exposed to or infected with rabies; reporting of animals affected with, or suspected of having rabies or suspected of having been exposed to rabies, or known or suspected of having bitten or attacked a person…”
What are your thoughts on this issue? Should the Adair County Humane Society continue to take in animals from the county even though there was no agreement made with the county pertaining to funding? Are to commissioners fair in continuing to donate $1,500 year to the shelter? Let us know what you think by submitting a comment below.
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