The citizens of Maysville, Kentucky have continually expressed disdain at the deplorable conditions and poor operations at the Mason County Animal Shelter, only to have these concerns repeatedly dismissed by elected county officials. We are demanding changes in the following areas:

1.) Hours of Operation: The animal shelter is currently open only two hours per day day, Monday through Friday, from 10 A.M. until 12 Noon. These hours are highly inconvenient and extremely limiting. If a person who wants to adopt is not at the shelter during this small window of time, the adoption cannot take place. We would like the shelter to be open longer hours and preferrably on evenings and weekends, as well.

2.) Staff: In order for the shelter to be open longer hours, there will need to be staffing additions. Oftentimes, the shelter requires someone in the shelter for adoptions as well as someone working outside the office in the field.

3.) Animal Health: Currently, sick animals are being placed in kennels with otherwise healthy animals. Sick animals need to be quarantined to help prevent the spread of disease.

4.) Kennel Utilization: Kennel space is currently not being appropriately utilized. Several kennels frequently remain unoccupied while animals are put down due to "overcrowding."

5.) Adequate Adoption Time: Sufficient time needs to be provided for animals to be adopted. Animals are being put down within only a couple days of their arrival at the shelter.

6.) Veterinary Involvement: A vet will give the official verdict on an animal's health condition - animals are not available for adoption if the dog warden says they are sick. He is not a vet and is not in a position to decide an animal's state of health.

7.) Adoption Website: An adoption website needs to be established. This resource will improve awareness and outreach, as well as enable animals to have a better chance of finding a home.

8.) Shelter Documentation: This is a necessity. There is currently no documentation at the shelter as to what animals are in the facility, how long they've been there, how long they have before euthanasia, or who adopts them.

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