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COLUMBUS—The Foothills Humane Society recently renewed its contract with Polk County and announced the restructuring of its model. The new contract will result in more county funding for the shelter while allowing Polk’s government to make appointments to the FHS board.

FHS President Carol Parker spoke passionately about the volunteers, board members, and communities’ commitment to FHS’s mission. Still, despite everyone’s hard work under the previous model, the board decided it was time to make changes to improve the vital community services the shelter provides. 

“This is a new day for Foothills Humane Society to have a better relationship with the county,” said Parker. “A relationship that benefits us and them. We will be a team, which has been our discussion since day one. And we will work together as a team to see how to improve FHS and run it better.”

Parker did extensive research and discovered that Foothills’ organizational model was rare, with few examples in the country where a shelter’s director of operations was responsible for its day-to-day operations and fundraising and grant writing. 

At FHS, those duties have now been divided among the new director of operations, Sarah McDonald. McDonald formerly worked as a staff member coordinating volunteers, handling the shelter’s day-to-day operations, and managing employees and volunteers. Parker will now handle fundraising and grant writing. 

Before the new contract with the county, FHS was responsible for generating most of the shelter’s roughly $970,000 annual budget, with the county contributing approximately $155,000 annually. To be more in line with the funding other shelters in WNC receive, FHS went to the county and presented a proposal for additional funding. The county raised the yearly amount and will now contribute approximately $300,000 annually. 

In exchange, FHS has given the county authority to appoint three members to the FHS twelve-member board. Foothills will also focus on using county funds to care for only animals from inside the county, raising separate funds to care for animals taken from areas outside the county. The Polk County Board of Commissioners appointed County Manager Marche Pittman, Commissioner David Moore, and Sheriff Tim Wright to the FHS on August 19. 

“It’s going to be exciting,” said Pittman. “This new agreement gives us a new perspective we’ve never had before into the inner workings of the shelter, and we’re all excited about the possibilities.”

The FHS board also appointed Steve King, a longtime volunteer and former board member, to fill out its board during its meeting on August 27. Other changes include relocating animals to shelters in short supply in other states. FHS has also added a pen for pigs and goats.

With the new contract and model in place, Foothills Humane Society aims to move towards a future where it can enhance its service to the community while staying true to its fundamental missions. To donate or sign up to volunteer at Foothills Humane Society, visit foothillshumanesociety.org.