Update on Hamilton Animal Shelter:  Hamilton Hires Independent Consultant for Animal Shelter Assessment, is Finalizing Agreement for Shelter Veterinarian

Illustrating the community’s desire to ensure high quality standards and humane operations at its public Animal Shelter, Hamilton Township has hired an independent consultant for an assessment of its shelter’s operations and is close to finalizing an agreement for a supervising shelter veterinarian.

Humane Pennsylvania – which according to its website is the region’s largest partnership of animal welfare organizations – will provide the Township with a private assessment of its shelter operations, focusing on key areas that officials hope to improve.  After analyzing information and data on the facility, the organization will tour the shelter, discuss current practices with staff and work with stakeholders to determine priorities to address.  Within two to four weeks of its site visit, Humane Pennsylvania will provide officials with a final assessment.  The cost of the complete independent assessment is $5,000.           

“We have made the decision to go above and beyond what needed to be addressed at our facility and, through the services of Humane Pennsylvania, welcome the organization’s independent assessment and recommendations so that we ensure our shelter meets the highest possible standards,” says Mayor Kelly Yaede.

In addition, Hamilton officials are finalizing an agreement for a supervising shelter veterinarian, which could be completed within the next week.  Once the agreement is finalized, the Township will formally announce the new veterinarian.  Hamilton Township’s Animal Shelter has continued to use the services of a local animal hospital while finalizing a new supervising veterinarian and has also consulted with State officials during the process.

These actions follow the town’s efforts to address all documented issues from a summer facility inspection, as well as additional, proactive measures that officials believe will improve operations.  Those measures include electronic documentation of shelter pet records, new operational procedures, expanded volunteer opportunities and a move toward what is referred to as ‘no-kill’ practices – which included the suspension of euthanasia services for terminally ill pets that were brought to the facility by their owners in order to be humanely put to rest (this change was a direct result from the State inspection that questioned holding periods for shelter animals that are required by state law).

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