BEDFORD – The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office has significantly changed its dog housing arrangements after modifications to the annual agreement with the White River Humane Society (WRHS). Under the new terms, the Sheriff’s Office will now sign a contract with The Dog Club to house dogs that are police holds, following WRHS’s decision to no longer accept animals seized during neglect cases or police holds.
Sheriff Greg Day emphasized the urgent need for proper care for these animals, particularly those involved in neglect cases. “These are animals in dire situations that need the utmost care. They are seized due to extreme neglect and should be a top priority,” he stated.
The Dog Club, a well-established boarding facility, will care for the dogs for $15,000 annually.
Initially, Sheriff Day had planned to construct kennels to house the dogs. Still, after reviewing the costs, he determined building a new facility would be too expensive and would deplete the county’s $30,000 budget allocated for stray and police hold dogs.
In 2024, Lawrence County contracted with WRHS to house stray dogs, cats, and police holds for $53,000 annually. However, WRHS faced overcrowding issues and announced they would no longer house police holds. Last year, the Sheriff’s Department took in 130 stray dogs and had 30 police holds.
Sheriff Day explained the financial strain that led to the change in policies. “They said they were losing too much money,” he said. “They made their decision, and I respect that. Now, we pay $380 per stray dog taken to the shelter and up to $480 if the dog is dropped off after hours. They bill us each month, and it adds up quickly. So now, with the current budget, we can only afford to drop off six dogs a month.”
Sheriff Day also reminded the public that not every stray dog will be picked up due to these budget constraints. “We will scan the dog for a microchip to locate the owner. The public will have to adjust. We are doing our best; I want the public to understand that. I know this is a difficult situation.”
With the agreement with The Dog Club, the Sheriff’s Office hopes to ensure that dogs seized during police holds continue to receive proper care while balancing the county’s limited resources.
