Commissioners answer questions about shelter at town hall
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Close to 50 people attendance a special town hall meeting Wednesday evening in the Belmont County commissioners' office with many expressing anger and suspicion about the operation of the county animal shelter.
The commissioners held the evening session to allow people unable to attend morning meetings to ask questions. The event lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours, and everyone who wanted to was able to speak and ask questions.
The issue arose six weeks ago when it was confirmed that several shelter dogs had been euthanized. Since then, guests have spoken at the board's weekly meetings and brought up conditions at the shelter and allegations of mismanagement against Dog Warden Lisa Duvall.
Commissioner J.P. Dutton opened the meeting with some background, saying that since the county took over management of the shelter from the Belmont County Animal Rescue League in 2015, the county has provided 25 percent of the shelter's funding through the general fund, to the tune of about $1.1 million. He also said the shelter has never euthanized more than 7% of its animals, and the generally agreed-upon limit is 10 percent to maintain an unofficial "no kill" status. He said the commissioners are also working toward construction of a new shelter that will hopefully alleviate current overcrowding.
Guests posed questions about euthanization reporting. Alex Colvin of Bellaire asked if every death is reported and who is accountable. Dutton said this would be the dog warden.
Ashley Barto of Flushing referred to veterinary records, saying seven dogs were euthanized in September, not four. Dutton said there are instances when a dog is in poor health, surrendered by the owner and euthanized without going to the shelter.
Barto said no reasons were given for many of the euthanizations on record. She and others asked how a dog gets classified as "vicious" and pointed out instances where a dog was marketed for adoption but later euthanized.
Guests including Julie Larish, humane agent with the organization Belmont County Hoof & Paw, said there are occasions when an aggressive dog can be trained and homed. A guest said Duvall unilaterally decides dogs are vicious without seeking other opinions.
Barto also referred to the Ohio Revised Code covering the disposal of animals in cases involving disease, saying they should be burned and not buried on county property as they have been. Larish said the public did not know whether disease was a factor.
Dutton read the reasons for each of the euthanizations, which included aggressive behavior and illness.
Two guests also made allegations against Duvall. One woman who did not identify herself and left before the meeting ended said Duvall unfairly filed five charges against her for not confining and restraining her dogs. She said the case was dismissed in 2022.
Another guest, Alicia Matthews of Moundsville said she rendered assistance Sept. 1 in Bridgeport along U.S. 40 when a then-staffer at the shelter was trying to catch two dogs at large. She said the staff member had no safety gear or vest to increase visibility. Matthews also said she was bitten twice and the shelter did not notify her when it was found the dogs had no rabies shots.
"There is a serious lack of communication," she said.
Questions also touched on the limitations placed on the number of shelter volunteers, with guests saying more volunteers could alleviate the demands on staff.
Dutton said there have been issues where volunteers have done other than what was asked of them. He also noted people who had signed on as volunteers did not show up or only did so occasionally.
Aaron Apitzsch, who with his wife Jodi have been permanently banned from volunteering, said they had not misrepresented animals when marketing them online. He also alleged a personal animus on Duvall's part.
"We have seen a continuous erosion in the relationship between the community and between volunteers, and anyone who Lisa (Duvall) deems a threat to her authority," he said.
Guests also suggested a foster program to help the dogs acclimate to people and life away from the shelter.
They also suggested more of an open-door policy at the shelter. Others said the adoption process is too lengthy and accused Duvall of finding reasons to deny adoptions.
Dutton reiterated that the commissioners have followed up on every matter brought to them, including updating the list of dogs up for adoption.
Barto, saying she spoke on behalf of concerned citizens, made recommendations including the suspension of Duvall and an investigation of operations and protocols at the shelter.
Lauren Smith, who works as a veterinary technician at New Horizon Animal Hospital, spoke in favor of the shelter staff.
"People don't realize how difficult shelter ... life is," she said. "Until you live it day in and day out, you don't. You don't understand the blood, sweat and tears involved. ... Shelter workers that take care of these dogs day in and day out, the attachment that there is there, because they're the only humans that they have, and they are trying their hardest."
Melissa Karkowski of St. Clairsville asked that another town hall meeting be scheduled when the commissioners have more answers.
Afterward Dutton said the commissioners are actively considering the issues raised and will take another town hall under consideration.
Duvall was present but made no comment after the meeting.