Daviess County Fiscal Court on Thursday approved providing up to $50,000 for a low-cost spay/neuter program at the county animal shelter. The funding could cover as many as 50 service days and potentially hundreds of surgeries for local pet owners.
The money will come from the Carl Henry Animal Shelter account, a donation-based fund the Court uses solely for the benefit of Daviess County animals. Because the dollars are not tax revenue, Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said, the County is not competing with private veterinarians.
County Treasurer Jordan Johnson said the allocation will allow It Takes a Village (ITV), which operates the shelter, to offer spay/neuter surgeries to any Daviess County resident for no more than $25 per animal. That fee is meant to offset incremental costs such as vaccinations and microchipping.
The County will cover the primary expense of securing a veterinarian at roughly $1,000 per day, up to 50 days.
Johnson said the total number of animals served will vary based on species, size, and sex. He estimated anywhere from 20-50 surgeries per service day, though ITV will determine the final scheduling and capacity.
“ITV would secure a veterinarian and set the schedule,” Johnson said. “Their aim would be to schedule the vet fully for the day.”
ITV will also be responsible for verifying residency — likely through documentation such as a driver’s license or utility bill — and for managing appointment demand and any waitlist.
Prior to the unanimous vote to approve the funding, Commissioner Janie Marksberry questioned why the County did not invest in a similar program years ago when the shelter had its own full-time veterinarian and a functioning clinic.
“We had a very efficient operation, and we could have used these funds more efficiently back then,” she said. “Before, we heard that we did not want to compete with the private sector. What has changed?”
Castlen reiterated that the distinction now is that donated funds, not taxpayer dollars, are being used.
“It absolutely would have been inappropriate for the County government to compete directly with County tax dollars subsidizing the operations of the services to compete directly with for-profit vets in our community,” he said. “And what we are doing now is we’re using funds that have been donated to us … making that available to the nonprofit that is running our shelter.”
Commissioner Larry Conder praised the decision, calling it an overdue step toward reducing overpopulation and shelter strain.
“Prevention helps significantly on the treatment side,” Conder said. “If you’re able to take care of these animals up front, then here we go. We should celebrate that it’s a great thing that is happening.”
Conder also emphasized the transparency required by the Court, noting that ITV must provide detailed reporting and cannot profit from the program. Johnson confirmed that donors may also earmark future contributions specifically for spay/neuter efforts.
Commissioner Chris Castlen underscored that eligibility will remain limited.
“It’s for Daviess County residents — not for others,” he said. “There have been concerns in the past, but this is just for citizens of Daviess County.”
ITV will be required to report the number of animals altered, along with species, sex, size, and dates of service. Johnson said the Court will evaluate participation and costs to determine whether the program should be extended or repeated.
ITV is expected to set a schedule and open appointments soon after Thursday’s approval.
