Second Part-Time Shelter Worker Approved

White County’s Steering B and Budget Committees approved a plan Monday to pay for a second part-time worker at the White County Animal Shelter.

Volunteer Monica Jicha said that she is grateful the county is funding one part-time employee, but said that it would not be enough because each employee still spends a lot of time working alone. Jicha said employees should not be working alone in the event of an accidental injury or an animal attack.

“I can’t imagine another job in this county where people are expected to work out in the middle of nowhere all by themselves with no backup, nobody there to work with them,” Jicha said. “So for the safety and the security of shelter employees, there needs to be at least two people there at all times.”

Finance Director Chad Marcum said it will cost some $15,000 to pay for the part-time employee for one year. Commissioner Chris Brewington said Jicha’s assessment of the situation is accurate.

“If my son was out there by himself, I’d be madder than hell,” Brewington said. “I’m just telling you straight up right there. Something really does need to be done.”

The funding for the position will come from a donation of some $70,000 that a local woman willed to the shelter when she passed away several years ago. Jicha said an additional employee would also benefit the management of the shelter because there is currently no plan for if an employee gets sick or has an emergency.

“The best shelter in the world is only as good as the people that work there,” Jicha said.

She said shelter workers do not get any holidays off because the dogs need constant care and there is no one to cover for them.

“Even with two part-time employees there’s no holiday routine and there never will be, and they accept that because the shelter is a 365-day a week – a year operation,” Jicha said. “Maybe we can’t give them holidays, and maybe we can’t give them overtime, the very least we can do is make sure that there’s two people out there at all times.”

The plan now goes before the White County Commission on July 15.