Residents of Bryan County, Georgia, have voiced a pressing need for enhanced animal services, urging local officials to take action during a recent County Commission meeting.

Among those advocating for change was Jackie Oldroyd, a dedicated community member who, alongside others, called for increased staffing at existing animal shelters. Additionally, they proposed the development of a volunteer-driven animal foster program to improve the welfare of animals in the area.

Oldroyd, who has personally fostered more than a dozen animals, shared her firsthand experiences of the transformative impact fostering can have. She highlighted the significant positive changes in dogs when they transition from shelter life to a caring foster home.

At present, she noted, the local animal shelters operate with just one employee from Monday to Friday. This limited staffing means that if the employee is occupied with an appointment, they are unable to assist with activities such as capturing strays or facilitating adoptions.

Moreover, Oldroyd pointed out that the current shelter hours do not accommodate individuals who wish to visit during their free time, thereby restricting opportunities for potential adoptions. The community’s plea emphasizes the urgent need for more accessible and efficient animal services in Bryan County.

“Statistics show that animal shelters that only offer weekday hours between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. have a 42% adoption rate. However, if they offer weekend hours, it jumps to 78%. How are people supposed to be able to take off of work to be able to see these animals or have them at events,” said Oldroyd.

The animal shelters offered in Bryan County are in Pembroke and Richmond Hill and adoptions are by appointment only. Learn more here.

“If you were to call right now and say you’d like to come over and, you know, see the dogs or ask for a specific one, I can guarantee you they’re not going to be available. They’re probably not even there,” said Oldroyd.

She said other counties have foster based programs in place, including Liberty County and Chatham County with no cost to taxpayers. She wants Bryan County to follow suit.

Chariman of Bryan County Commission, Carter Infinger, told more resources are already in the works.

As of Dec. 15, a new 4,400 sq. ft. animal shelter will open at 2 p.m. on Dog Lane in Richmond Hill. The shelter will have 18 indoor and outdoor dog kennels, six small dog kennels, two cat rooms, a medical exam and treatment area and a quarantine space for animal well-being.

“We just spent over 1 million dollars on a new facility.  And look, we want to work with them, right? We got all brand-new staff. We can hire more staff. We got a brand-new director.  And you know what? We’re going to let them assess the needs that we need,” said Infinger.

He also said they are open to creating volunteer based programs, but need to take precaution before doing so.

“I mean, we’re not going to give them the key to the kennels.  They come and go as they please. So there’s got to be some structure around that. And I think that’s what this new team will do, is put structure around that and limitations,  because there’s also liabilities out there, too, right,” said Infinger.