Evansville enacts reforms to city animal control department
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After a series of public meetings in the first half of the year, Evansville is announcing changes to its animal control department.
In a press release this week, Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry announced the start of a foster-to-adopt program at Evansville Animal Care & Control. The initiative will see adopted pets go home the same day as opposed to waiting up to a week for spay or neutering surgery.
The new move frees up more kennel space and speeds up the adoption process. The city says it’s finalizing the structure of the program, including penalties for noncompliance.
The city is also looking at improving its vaccine process and examining more efficient cleaning methods.
The changes are the result of Evansville Animal Care and Control hosting an inspector from the nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends suggested the improvements and Evansville City Council member Missy Mosby is taking the lead in working with EACC on updating ordinances as need be.
It’s also possible the city extends hours at the EACC for an hour one day per work.
The examination of the EACC begin over the winter with Terry calling a series of public meetings regarding animal overpopulation that drew close to 100 attendees.
“These aren’t just operational tweaks—they’re a response to the community,” Terry said. “When our residents raised their voices about the conditions and practices at Animal Control, we listened. Change is underway, and I want to be clear: This is only the beginning. We are building a better system – one that reflects our community’s values and our commitment to animal welfare.”
The city added Best Friends staff have received a license to practice in Indiana, making it easier for EACC to order common medications for the animals.