Animal Shelter Facing Human Staffing Woes

MUNCIE, Ind. — A van load of new arrivals were backed into the receiving dock at Muncie Animal Care and Services and, as shelter workers opened the vehicle’s doors, its passengers erupted into a chattering chorus.

“Hi!” “Pretty bird!” “What you doing!?”

Nearly a dozen cockatoos and a few African parrots, taken from the home of their recently deceased owner for temporary holding, chirped at animal control officers as the birds were gently carried into the facility on a recent evening.

Director Ethan Browning said the addition of an exotic flock was an appropriately chaotic bookend to the shelter’s week.

Muncie Animal Care and Services has reached capacity and is asking the community to adopt and foster its animals.

With overflow of dogs and cats already being held in staff offices, utility closets, laundry rooms, hallways and reception area, Browning designated a storage room near the shelter’s entrance as a temporary bird sanctuary.

“We’re just going to have to make this work . it’s literally the only place we have left,” Browning said.

He said MACS has operated precariously beyond capacity since a few weeks ago when staff responded to an animal neglect case at a home on Muncie’s south side.

While conditions at the home were allegedly “horrendous,” he said the decision to seize 14 dogs from the property was still distressing.

“That was when I knew we had gone beyond a critical point,” Browning said. “We were staying lucky for a while, hoping a big case like that wouldn’t come and push us over the edge.”

He said the dogs — nine adults and five puppies, which were found along with two dead dogs inside the residence — are aggressive and unsocialized. As a result, the adult dogs are being held separately in the Muncie Animal Care and Services “education room,” where typically visitors would interact with adoptable dogs.

Browning said, with every dog kennel at the shelter occupied (except for those kept open for animals that are an immediate public safety risk), it’s a hindrance to the adoption process the shelter can’t afford.

“We aren’t moving dogs as fast as we need to or usually do,” Browning said. “We’re not moving cats as quickly either . there’s just no adoptions.”

According to MACS data, in June 2020, the shelter’s busiest month last year, there were 267 animals at the facility and 78 adoptions. In contrast, during June 2021, MACS had 406 animals with only 47 adoptions.

As to why the number of animals dramatically increased while adoption numbers dropped, Browning said he could only speculate.

“The way I look at it, when the shelter is this busy and this full it’s a symptom of larger problems being faced by the community,” Browning said.

Outside of the education room, the only place visitors can safely meet with adoptable dogs face-to-face is in the shelter’s outdoor play yard. Unfortunately, Browning said that space has been neglected due to a lack of volunteers and staff.

“We have been so busy that we haven’t been able to pull anyone off the road or away from the animals to even mow back there so it hasn’t been mowed in three weeks . it’s in pretty bad shape,” Browning said.

Browning said diminished staff size has compounded every problem the shelter is facing while operating beyond capacity, from maintenance of the shelter to adoptions and caretaking.

For at least the last several weeks, the shelter has been short one assistant director, two animal control officers, two cat caretakers and two dog caretakers.

Muncie Animal Care and Services has reached capacity and is asking the community to adopt and foster its animals.

Six of the MACS “staple” employees Browning is trying to replace were Ball State University and Ivy Tech Community College students who moved back home at the start of the pandemic.

“We’re having a really hard time finding and keeping part-time staff right now,” Browning said. “I probably had 150 people send in applications, then all but 30 or so never return my calls or emails.”

`Nobody wants to work’:Why are employers struggling to find workers?

He said applications “skyrocketed” when unemployment “Work Search” requirements were reinstated last month.

“If it wasn’t for COVID we might be fine,” Browning said. “Primarily what we attract for these positions are college students . there’s high turnover.”

He said with the state’s rescues full and the shelter’s busy season projected to continue through October, MACS is in dire need of community assistance.

“We are just taking in way more animals than are leaving every day,” Browning said.

First, the shelter needs its adoption numbers to increase.

In addition to waiving all reclaim fees, MACS is running an adoption special: $50 for dogs and $25 for cats with some senior animal adoptions free.

All of MACS adoptable animals are listed on PetFinder.com.

Muncie Animal Care and Services has reached capacity and is asking the community to adopt and foster its animals.

Second, the shelter needs monetary and supply donations. Browning said large crates, leashes, dog toys and dog treats are invaluable under the current circumstances. Additionally, the shelter has a wish list on Amazon.com.

Lastly, MACS needs volunteers to foster animals and help with cleaning and maintenance of the facility.

Anyone interested in volunteering or fostering can reach the MACS at 765-747-4851.