Editorial full of thinly veiled jabs at Luce.

The following is a Jackson Citizen Patriot editorial for June 13:

Shelter's changes no reason to howl
Posted by Jackson Citizen Patriot June 13, 2008 08:08AM
Categories: Editorial

Issue: Sheriff reports progress since taking over county animal shelter.

Our Say: Despite some hiccups, this operation is in much better shape today than a year ago.

The recent marriage between Jackson County's sheriff and the animal shelter has not been flawless. Longtime shelter director Kimberlee Luce just left, while Sheriff Dan Heyns is getting his hands slapped for hiking the fee to euthanize animals without anyone's approval.

Still, the sheriff's new role overseeing the shelter is one that we think will work. There's a natural overlap between the two agencies, and the new arrangement is leading to a more efficient operation. Heyns might step a little more gingerly here, but he and county commissioners are barking up the right tree. (stepping gingerly would be prudent, considering the debacle of the last 15 months)

Jackson County residents ought to see the improvements. The current shelter at 3370 Spring Arbor Road opened four months ago and is a huge improvement from the dilapidated old facility on Blackstone Street. The new building twice has passed muster with state inspectors who had questioned the old shelter's conditions. (they certainly SHOULD see improvements with a new MILLION DOLLAR facility, that is for damn sure)

Putting the sheriff in charge was another logical improvement. Deputies and animal-control officers often handle the same calls, such as when someone is arrested at home and leaves unlicensed animals behind.

In a short time, Heyns has made changes to make the shelter more efficient and save the public money. Inmates are helping clean the building and soon might be walking dogs. Yippee. Animal-control officers are getting extra training, and their radio calls now are part of the system that other law-enforcement agencies use. (I wonder what that "extra training" includes; no, really, I do!)

The improvements feed into a culture change, away from seeking to adopt out animals toward controlling this county's population of wild animals. Public safety is first, as it should be. (what I read here is, less focus on adoption, more on killing)

There also will be room for serving the community's other needs. Don't forget that county officials touted the new shelter because it was more friendly for residents looking to adopt animals. (what a mixed message! I thought we were "controlling" rather than finding them new homes, just a paragraph ago ...)

Heyns can build some trust by proposing a sliding scale for euthanasia fees. The previous $10 fee is far too little, especially with some veterinarians charge 10 times as much, but the shelter provides services for those who cannot afford the alternatives. And, yes, the task of raising fees belongs with county commissioners.

These are small bones to pick in the big picture. County residents today have the animal shelter they deserve — and the right person to run it. (meaning, they had the wrong person before, one could assume)

I should feel bad for her. Right?