Humane Society to open meetings monthly to public for input

Starting in February, Logan County Humane Society board meetings will be open to the public for anyone who has issues or concerns with animal control in Sterling.

The four-member board voted Monday evening to open the first few minutes — or however long it takes — of their meetings once a month to hear public input. The move is part of the Society’s efforts to be more transparent, as is called for in the organization’s new contract with the City of Sterling.

New management at the Humane Society also has led to staffing changes and a new emphasis on having negligent pet owners suffer consequences.

Board president Kelly Nestor said the changes were needed because of the number of complaints being aired at Sterling City Council meetings. Nestor and her current board took over control of the animal shelter and its animal control duties in December and negotiated the new contract with the city. She said she was faced with a fairly negative view of the situation.

“We were presented with two problems, first that we had an overflowing shelter, and second that people were afraid to go out of their homes (in Sterling) because of aggressive dogs,” she said. “We were told (the overcrowding) was a nationwide problem and there was just no solution to it, so we worked on that.”

Apparently the solutions have started working because in January alone the shelter has successfully placed 16 dogs in new homes with two more adoptions pending, and a number of volunteers have come forward to foster dogs in their homes until permanent homes can be found.

Meanwhile, the new animal control wardens have been responding to calls and racking up the citations. Prior to December 2023 the wardens averaged eight citations a month. In December they issued 24 citations.

“When we pick up a dog, and the owner comes to claim it, they’re issued a dog-at-large (citation) before they can claim the dog,” Nestor said. “That way, they know there’s a consequence to letting their dogs get out.”

Nestor said the Humane Society can always use volunteers to help with fostering, adoptions and other activities. The board also has only one-third of the 12 members called for in it bylaws. Anyone interested in working with the Humane Society is urged to call 970-520-2804 or email at info.lchs@gmail.com.