All animals at the Fort Smith Animal Shelter have been placed in adoptive or foster homes ahead of the end of volunteer operations, but the future of animal care in the community remains uncertain.
The volunteer group running the shelter stopped doing so at the end of last month, having warned for months that the work was no longer sustainable. The town says it is committed to keeping the shelter open, but the exact details of how that will happen aren’t clear.
“The Town is taking a proactive approach to reviewing how shelter operations are organized and delivered,” the municipality stated on Monday.
Robyn Brown, a longtime shelter volunteer and former president of the Fort Smith Animal Society, told Cabin Radio she worked to find homes for every animal before November 1. The last dog, Moony, was fostered on October 31 by a volunteer who plans to adopt Moony if she gets along with their other dogs.
As previously reported by the CBC, the shelter was set to suspend operations on November 1 because of a shortage of volunteers, with the Town of Fort Smith preparing to take over the facility as a municipal pound.
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Brown said she will continue checking in with recent adopters and foster families to help them succeed, but will no longer coordinate volunteers or adoptions for animals brought in by bylaw officers.
“I hope that over the next couple of months the town will realize the incredible amount of work it takes to run the shelter – how important it is to the community to know that dogs are being adopted out rather than euthanized,” she wrote in an email to Cabin Radio.
Brown returned to front-line shelter work in May, having stepped down as society president in March, because no current board members were available to lead day-to-day operations. The shelter’s volunteer shortage and need for a paid manager were raised at a town council meeting in September, when volunteers warned the workload was overwhelming.
The society’s treasurer will continue running its spay and neuter cost-assistance program until the end of the year or until its remaining funds run out. Residents can contact the Fort Smith Animal Society for information or to apply.
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Town and society to discuss transition
The Town of Fort Smith and the society are scheduled to hold a private meeting on Thursday, November 5 to discuss how the transition will operate.
Senior administrative officer David Henderson told Cabin Radio that discussion is a continuation of talks between town staff and the non-profit. He said the town is encouraging the society and current volunteers to work with the municipality on a manageable solution.
Brown said she hopes the discussion will clarify how long the town will care for impounded or surrendered animals and ensure mobile veterinarians can continue accessing the shelter to provide veterinary care for the community.
The November 5 discussion is expected to address the town’s responsibilities for animals at the facility and the possibility for a future funding partnership.
In a Monday statement, the town described itself as “committed to maintaining animal control services and ensuring that the municipal animal shelter remains operational.”
“The Town is not stepping away from its responsibilities. We are working to establish clear processes, appropriate service expectations and a sustainable operating structure,” the statement continued.
“The shelter will remain operational. Animal control bylaws will continue to be enforced. Animals in municipal custody will continue to receive basic care.”
