By Haylee Pence
TROY – The Miami County Animal Shelter has a new director, Robert Craft. Craft was previously the manager of the shelter, but the Miami County Commissioners approved the title change to director to more accurately reflect the position responsibilities.
Craft has been with the animal shelter for over six months, and he previously worked in a juvenile rehab center in Miami county. During his time at the center, “most of [his] time was in management.” Craft brought years of experience in management to his new position at the shelter.
His experience has enabled him to make some changes at the shelter. Craft has helped “really clean up and organize the facility.” The animal shelter was built in 1971. One of the struggles that Craft and his team have faced is “finding the best usage of the space because of the limited space.”
Craft said, “I have a wonderful staff that do an excellent job, but I would like to do additional training for the staff members.”
“I enjoy seeing people come in and find a pet that makes them happy. Then receiving pictures and letters of the adopted pets and seeing the pets becoming a part of their families,” Craft said in response to his favorite thing about the position.
Currently, the shelter is housing approximately 36 dogs and about 13 cats, all available for adoption. If you’re interested in adopting, visit the shelter to see the adoptable animals and “get a feel” for the animals. Once you and your family pick one you like, the shelter staff will have you fill out an application and give you information on the pet. After the application is submitted, the shelter staff will perform a background check and confirm with a landlord that a pet is acceptable. Once these items are all cleared, the shelter staff will have you bring any pets you already have to meet the new pet. The new pet can go home that day if everything clears.
The animal shelter also provides other services including dog licensing. With the shelter fully transitioned to a no-kill shelter, they offer “more medical care before adopting out animals, including spaying and neutering.” The animal shelter hosts a cat clinic for people to bring in their cats for a low cost spay/neuter. This service is mostly for previously adopted cats, but if there are open slots available, the clinic is opened to the public.
The animal shelter is a “great place to volunteer,” Craft said. To get involved with volunteering, you can fill out an application on the website. The volunteer coordinator will review applications and schedule time for new volunteers to complete a 10-hour training session that would be completed over several sessions. Once volunteers are trained, they are able to come in and do various tasks that they feel comfortable with. The “time commitment is flexible.”
Craft added, “The staff here have a very difficult job, enforcing all the laws and ordinances involving animals in the community. They really care about the animals, and take great care of the animals, and love them. I really appreciate the hard-working staff here at the shelter.”
