2007 Awards

Animal shelter wins statewide recognition

By VICTORIA MARTY, Gleaner staff 831-8341 * vmarty@thegleaner.com
Thursday, March 22, 2007

In a dramatic turnaround, the Henderson County animal shelter has been awarded the Shelter of the Year designation from the same statewide animal care organization that excluded it from membership in 2005 because of unsanitary conditions.

"I think they have set the bar," said Mike Cassidy, the elected president of the Kentucky Animal Care and Control Association. "From talking to other members, they want to make their centers as good as what the shelter has made it in Henderson County."

He gave as his reasons the standards of professionalism set by shelter director John Dunaway as well as the shelter's efforts to increase adoptions through local media as well as through PetSmart.

"Henderson County is extremely lucky to have Dr. Dunaway as the director of their animal shelter," Cassidy said. "With Dr. Dunaway and his staff's hard work and dedication, they have taken an organization that was struggling to get by just one year ago and made it into one of Kentucky's premier animal shelters."

Dunaway said he is very appreciative of the honor and that the shelter has some wonderful employees.

"It's a very flattering thing to know that they regarded us that highly," he said. "It's possible because the people who are employed out there have worked very hard to turn this around and make it what it ought to be."

KACCA is an organization of animal control professionals that consists of members of government, animal control and private humane societies.


		Gary Maxwell named 2007 Animal Control Officer of the Year Pendleton County Animal Control Officer Gary Maxwell attended the Kentucky Animal Care and Control Association's Spring Training Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, March 15-17. Officer Maxwell participated in several courses of study. On March 15, he attended courses on proper adoption processes, shelter media relations, proper prosecution of animal hoarders and how to handle a puppy mill situation. The classes were presented by the Humane Society of the United States. On March 16-17, he attended courses that were presented by an instructor with the National Animal Control Association. The following areas of study were presented: the role of an animal control officer in cruelty investigations, rules of evidence, dealing with the media, courtroom testimony, officer safety, and interview and interrogation. While in attendance, Officer Maxwell was presented the 2007 Animal Control Officer of the Year Award by the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Animal Care and Control Association. This was the first time in the twenty year history of K.A.C.C.A. that this award has been given. The Board felt there was no other animal control professional that exemplified dedication and a spirit to improve his services to his community as did Officer Maxwell. They felt the community of Pendleton County should be proud to have an animal control officer as dedicated as Officer Maxwell. "I'm extremely honored to be the first recipient of such an award," said Maxwell, Pendleton County's first full-time animal control officer. "This job is very demanding and stressful, but I feel greatly rewarded to be recognized by such a large group of my peers. I look forward to serving the county in the future as we strive to continue upon the improvements that have already been made. I'd like to thank all those who have supported me in this endeavor." Animal shelter wins statewide recognition By VICTORIA MARTY, Gleaner staff 831-8341 * vmarty@thegleaner.com Thursday, March 22, 2007 In a dramatic turnaround, the Henderson County animal shelter has been awarded the Shelter of the Year designation from the same statewide animal care organization that excluded it from membership in 2005 because of unsanitary conditions. "I think they have set the bar," said Mike Cassidy, the elected president of the Kentucky Animal Care and Control Association. "From talking to other members, they want to make their centers as good as what the shelter has made it in Henderson County." He gave as his reasons the standards of professionalism set by shelter director John Dunaway as well as the shelter's efforts to increase adoptions through local media as well as through PetSmart. "Henderson County is extremely lucky to have Dr. Dunaway as the director of their animal shelter," Cassidy said. "With Dr. Dunaway and his staff's hard work and dedication, they have taken an organization that was struggling to get by just one year ago and made it into one of Kentucky's premier animal shelters." Dunaway said he is very appreciative of the honor and that the shelter has some wonderful employees. "It's a very flattering thing to know that they regarded us that highly," he said. "It's possible because the people who are employed out there have worked very hard to turn this around and make it what it ought to be." KACCA is an organization of animal control professionals that consists of members of government, animal control and private humane societies.

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