By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
Following the Kansas Department of Agriculture inspection on the Salina Animal Shelter that was deemed "unsatisfactory," a board meeting took place to provide public transparency and solve current issues.
At the meeting, City Manager Jacob Wood, Director of Parks and Recreation Jeff Hammond and Operations Superintendent of the animal shelter Andrea Murphy were present along with the animal board members.
Wood addressed the public about the report and gave his comments.
He stated that he was glad the inspection took place, so the City can provide solutions moving forward. Moreover, he said the blame should not all be put on the animal shelter, but the City Manager's office.
He said most of the problems brought up in the inspection were "suggestions" per the state inspector, and were not all state requirements.
Wood commented the animal shelter has been working hard and said he does not eye to eye with most of the issues expressed from the public.
"They (animal shelter) are working hard and they are good people," said Wood. "Being an animal shelter officer is a hard job and I don't see the same issues the way they are expressed," said Wood.
Transparency and hopeful improvements moving forward
As the animal board questioned Murphy several times regarding the state of the shelter, there was a consensus to provide more transparency to the public and have hopes on improvements moving forward.
Murphy stated there have been updates made to the the laundry aspect and improvements on the overall cleanliness.
On January of this month, Murphy brought up they have already made progress on bringing volunteers back to the shelter.
According to Murphy, there were a total of 26 applications that went through the volunteer process. Seven of those never responded to their attempt, while eight declined to move forward with the process and two volunteers that were accepted did not show up to orientation.
However, five have successfully gone through the whole process and are expected to start shifts this weekend.
Towards the end of the meeting, the board motioned and passed for the shelter to provide the public with transparency surrounding euthanasia reports.
Rosemary Mai who is one of the board members, requested that Hammond and Wood ask the Salina Commissioners to look into bringing Prairie Paws to oversee the shelter. A motion was made by the board, which it passed as well.
The next board meeting will be on April 8. Depending on the status of the animal shelter, the board will decide when to meet next.
Salina Post will continue to provide updates and finding regarding the animal shelter.
More articles will be published regarding "anonymous letters, Prairie Paws and past animal shelter reports."
Watch the full board meeting below: