Animal Shelter Budget Request Includes New Position For Programs

The Cookeville-Putnam County Animal Shelter requesting additional money from the city and county to create a new coordinator position.

The shelter wants $22,000 in increased funding from both entities. Director Jennifer Hutchinson-Tracey said the program coordinator would be a fully-trained kennel worker that would lead volunteer and education opportunities.

“The majority of the animals that are coming into the shelter are coming from either the city limits of Cookeville or the unincorporated parts of Putnam County, so we asked for some additional funding for that to help offset some of the additional payroll expenses,” Hutchinson-Tracey said.

The shelter will also eliminate a part-time position in the process. Hutchinson-Tracey said the worker would focus on enrichment activities to increase adoptability as well as developing the shelter’s education center.

“When we built that education room, all along I had a list of things I wanted to do with it particularly directing programs for children while opening up some volunteer opportunities for the younger kids that don’t qualify to be regular volunteers with us. Something that we can do more as a group setting to benefit the animals.”

Hutchinson-Tracey said she would also like to bring in speakers to educate the community. If approved, the shelter would have 6 full-time positions.