8/29/18 @ 10:55 a.m. - Nassau County Animal Care & Control is responsible for promoting and protecting public safety and enforcing county ordinances in all areas of Nassau County, with the exception of the City of Fernandina Beach who utilizes their own agency, the Nassau Humane Society. General duties include responding to requests for help from citizens ranging from wild animals, dangerous animals, to animals in distress, investigating animal cruelty cases, maintaining rabies vaccination records, picking up stray animals, and working to ensure any stray or owner surrendered pet that enters the shelter finds a permanent and loving home.
Working at Animal Care & Control can be a rewarding job, however far too often, staff is exposed to animals who have suffered neglect. Many animals they encounter have lacked basic needs such as flea medication, proper shelter, vaccinations, and food and water. While some of them are abandoned, others are surrendered from owners who love them, but don't have the financial means to properly care for them.
While at the shelter, staff provides the animals with general care such as feeding, cleaning and disinfecting kennels and cages, picking up fecal material, monitoring sick, quarantined or injured animals, and assisting with minor medical treatments. They also provide the animals with plenty of snuggles and playtime to maintain human interaction and keep them comforted while in their care. While playing with the animals and providing their basic needs can be a lot of fun, being exposed to sick animals and having to participate in euthanasia of sick animals can be very difficult. It truly takes a special individual to give these animals the care they need.
Perhaps the most satisfying result of their hard work is when they find forever homes for all the adoptable pets entering the shelter. This is done by hosting adoption events, transferring pets to rescue groups, and being sure the shelter is clean and animals are presentable when potential adoptees walk through the door. Depending on the number of pets in the shelter, the demands to care for them can become overwhelming. Fortunately, there are many wonderful volunteers in our community who are willing to dedicate their personal time to enhance the life of these animals while waiting to be adopted. Thanks to the efforts of each employee and volunteer, Nassau County Animal Care & Control has received national recognition for their programs and service to the community and have maintained no-kill status for the past 5 years. Their statistics are quite remarkable. During the last fiscal year, 2,105 animals were taken into the shelter. Of those, 1,755 left the shelter through adoption, transfers to rescue groups, or returned to owners.
Director Tim Maguire stated, "My job, while difficult at times, is extremely rewarding. It is an honor to work for a County that is so animal friendly and caring. I am very proud of our staff and volunteers who do their very best to help the homeless, mistreated and unwanted animals we encounter every day".
Nassau County Animal Care & Control currently has an operating budget of $1,086,977 and a total of 16 employees including seven kennel attendants, a Veterinary Tech, four animal control officers, two office specialists, a shelter manager, and a Director. The shelter is open to the public Tuesday -Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. For additional information regarding adoptable pets, permits & licensing, and shelter reporting, please visit their website. Be sure to follow them on FaceBook for up-to-date information on adoption events, special programs and pictures/videos of adoptable pets.
-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office
Working at Animal Care & Control can be a rewarding job, however far too often, staff is exposed to animals who have suffered neglect. Many animals they encounter have lacked basic needs such as flea medication, proper shelter, vaccinations, and food and water. While some of them are abandoned, others are surrendered from owners who love them, but don't have the financial means to properly care for them.
While at the shelter, staff provides the animals with general care such as feeding, cleaning and disinfecting kennels and cages, picking up fecal material, monitoring sick, quarantined or injured animals, and assisting with minor medical treatments. They also provide the animals with plenty of snuggles and playtime to maintain human interaction and keep them comforted while in their care. While playing with the animals and providing their basic needs can be a lot of fun, being exposed to sick animals and having to participate in euthanasia of sick animals can be very difficult. It truly takes a special individual to give these animals the care they need.
Perhaps the most satisfying result of their hard work is when they find forever homes for all the adoptable pets entering the shelter. This is done by hosting adoption events, transferring pets to rescue groups, and being sure the shelter is clean and animals are presentable when potential adoptees walk through the door. Depending on the number of pets in the shelter, the demands to care for them can become overwhelming. Fortunately, there are many wonderful volunteers in our community who are willing to dedicate their personal time to enhance the life of these animals while waiting to be adopted. Thanks to the efforts of each employee and volunteer, Nassau County Animal Care & Control has received national recognition for their programs and service to the community and have maintained no-kill status for the past 5 years. Their statistics are quite remarkable. During the last fiscal year, 2,105 animals were taken into the shelter. Of those, 1,755 left the shelter through adoption, transfers to rescue groups, or returned to owners.
Director Tim Maguire stated, "My job, while difficult at times, is extremely rewarding. It is an honor to work for a County that is so animal friendly and caring. I am very proud of our staff and volunteers who do their very best to help the homeless, mistreated and unwanted animals we encounter every day".
Nassau County Animal Care & Control currently has an operating budget of $1,086,977 and a total of 16 employees including seven kennel attendants, a Veterinary Tech, four animal control officers, two office specialists, a shelter manager, and a Director. The shelter is open to the public Tuesday -Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. For additional information regarding adoptable pets, permits & licensing, and shelter reporting, please visit their website. Be sure to follow them on FaceBook for up-to-date information on adoption events, special programs and pictures/videos of adoptable pets.
-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office
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