Fannin County Animal Control has already seen several changes this year in order to improve the overall operations, and more are expected to come.
“It’s always nice to continue and improve and grow and be safer,” Animal Control Manager John Drullinger said.
Thus far, the hours have changed for the public from 9 a.m. to noon to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday. After 3 p.m. officers follow up and respond to calls until 5 p.m.
Their phone system has been updated and now records every interaction.
A suggestions box is now in place in the lobby.
Tracking devices have been placed on the vehicles along with citizens band (CB) radios.
“That way if there’s a dead zone, we don’t have to try and go somewhere for cell phone service,” Drullinger said of the radios.
Of the tracking devices, Drullinger mentioned the recent theft of a Fannin County School bus and the help the tracking device was.
A drain for the washing machine, which many had complained about, has been cemented in.
A PayPal account, solely for Animal Control, has also been implemented.
“I know a lot of people donate money, but they want to make sure it helps the animals and not just get washed into the General Fund,” Drullinger said.
Those wishing to donate can do so using the QR code that accompanies this story or through the link, www.paypal.com/qrcodes/managed/a1b621d5-bc23-4197-8267-9e2cf643f467?utm_source=merchant_lp.
Those looking to donate can also write a check to the Fannin County Board of Commissioners with “Animal Control Donation” listed in the memo line. These checks can be dropped off at the Commissioner’s Office on the first floor of the Fannin County Courthouse.
Additionally, a “goals board” has been incorporated in which the officers have compiled three short-term goals to work toward and the volunteers with their own three.
Two long-term goals noted on the board are to redo the floors in the bay and kennels and install guttering on the back of the facility.
One of the officers’ short-term goals included incorporating a volunteer-of-the-month program in which the volunteer could be photographed with the featured dog of the week in the Adopt a Pet section of The News Observer.
Drullinger hopes this might increase the amount of volunteers for the facility.
Jaime Pittman and Donna Turek, two of several, regular volunteers, spoke to the work volunteers do in the facility for the animals.
“It’s rewarding to see these animals, these dogs, getting adopted or rescued and helping them get more socialized,” Turek said. “A lot of dogs that come in here were on chains or running free, and at least here they get fed and a bed.”
Of what volunteers do, Pittman said they “mainly walk dogs, spend time with them in the play yard, and love on them. It’s great exercise really for anyone. You can take a dog on a walk or you can just sit with them.”
Volunteers also help transport the dogs to rescues, and one volunteer puts together backpacks for the dogs to be transported with and gift bags for local adopters, Turek said.
In the future, cameras inside the facility will be installed along with another sink near the kennels.
Animal Control Officer J.R. Cornett said some of the changes are “long overdue.”