Monroe County Animal Services works to rebuild trust with new leadership

New leadership, updated policies, staff training and additional cameras are part of efforts to rebuild confidence in the shelter.

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – After a summer that put the Monroe County Animal Shelter under intense scrutiny, the shelter is working to move forward with new leadership, updated policies and additional staff.

Jennifer McGettigan is the shelter’s new office manager. She brings 18 years of experience working in the animal shelter field.

McGettigan says her focus is rebuilding the public’s trust through transparency and creating a shelter the community can be proud of.

“We really want to instill trust back into the department,” McGettigan said. “Complete transparency. We’re trying to build something, you know, the community can be proud of.”

McGettigan says the shelter is updating its policies and procedures. The shelter also has new staff members who will undergo strict training.

“We are updating our policies and procedures, “McGettigan said. “We do have some new staff members who will undergo, you know, strict training.”

The shelter has also added two cameras, including one in the kennels and another in the exam room.

McGettigan says the additional cameras are intended to provide more transparency and ensure activities inside the shelter are documented.

Richard Dumas, public information officer with Monroe County, says the changes are part of an effort to bring positive energy back to the shelter and regain the public’s trust.

“We want this shelter to be a place that they can take pride in,” he said. “We’re certainly sorry about the way the situation played out earlier this summer and we’re horrified to learn of it but we certainly don’t want that to be a reflection on both the way Monroe County Animal Services functions or the Monroe County as a whole.”

Dumas says the shelter is now fully staffed with a four-person team, including two new employees.

The county says it wants the community to have confidence in the shelter as it moves forward.