October 22nd, 2025 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Commissioners held a special public work session on Tuesday to discuss options on handling issues at the county animal shelter. The county received notice Monday evening that all remaining members of the shelter foundation had resigned and that only 2 part-time workers were at the shelter.  County Administrator Jason Bennett set the tone for the commissioner’s concerns…

   

“What we really need to figure out is the immediate and the immediate is how do we care for the animals. There’s 430, 40 animals out there right now. We have to figure out how we care for those animals immediately. The board that we know has thrown their hands up and said ‘hey, we’re out.’”

A stopgap measure is being pursued by the county to contract former shelter director Jodi Eirich and a veterinarian, which is required by the Department of Agriculture…

    

“On a short-term basis, get her and a couple members of her team back so that we can get the vet back in the facility to operate it until we can figure out what we’re going to do. And that would include animal control – we’ve gotten how many calls already today on animal control and we really have no ability to do anything short of borrowing Garrett County’s.”