GREENFIELD — Greenfield-Hancock Animal Management has temporarily suspended its weekend pet adoption hours after two recent resignations, including that of director Paul Miller, left the department short-staffed.
Typically, the shelter is open for a few hours on Saturday and the public can stop in to visit with or adopt animals; the shelter is closed Sunday, though employees return to care for the animals.
Miller, who was appointed to the position in May, resigned earlier this month. A kennel assistant at the shelter also recently left the department, Mayor Chuck Fewell said.
Because the shelter is short-staffed, the facility’s remaining four employees are working seven days a week to manage kennel hours and care for the animals — the shelter’s capacity is about 45 dogs and 45 cats — and aren’t getting much time away, Fewell said.
Employees also are on call after office hours to respond to emergencies involving animals around the county.
Officials decided to cancel Saturday hours temporarily to help give current employees more time off.
“They’re working a lot of hours right now,” Fewell said. “We don’t want to overwork the employees we have. They’re good employees.”
The shelter’s Monday through Friday hours will remain the same: the kennel is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for visitors wanting to see the animals, and the office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., like other city offices.
Animal management, 809 S. State St., serves the entire county and is responsible for sheltering lost and stray dogs and cats, finding families to adopt animals and investigating cases of animal cruelty.
Office manager Debbie Harris said staff members understand the inconvenience. They know some residents considering adopting an animal are unavailable during the shelter’s weekday office hours. She said they’ll do their best to accommodate after-hours requests.
Those interested in applying for the kennel assistant position should submit an application by Sunday. Fewell expects to post the opening for the director position in coming weeks.
Miller took over as interim director of the facility last February after Jeff Leffel, who had been in the position for five years, left the department for another position with the city. Leffel had worked at animal management for about 6½ years.
In May, the city’s works board appointed Miller the director, a position that oversees five employees and a budget of about $500,000.
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Greenfield-Hancock Animal Management is currently suspending its Saturday hours. The kennel will be open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Residents who are interested in adoption but can’t make it to the shelter during its hours, should call 317-477-4367, and employees will schedule an appointment with them.
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