Columbus Animal Care Commission Meeting - February 9, 2026
Columbus Animal Care Commission Meeting - February 9, 2026
The Columbus Animal Care Commission held a regular meeting on February 9, 2026. The meeting began with the swearing-in of new member Kelsey Arthur and the approval of previous meeting minutes. Reports were presented on animal control operations, shelter statistics, capital campaign, and new building progress. The commission also discussed conflict of interest forms and preferences for receiving meeting materials.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Animal Control Update: No dangerous animals or court orders were reported. Friends of Cats completed 242 TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) surgeries in 2025, down from ~250 in 2024 and below the 300 goal, due to weather and space constraints.
- Pet Food Bank: Over 15,000 pounds of pet food were distributed in 2025, an increase from prior years. Distribution occurs every third Thursday at the airport.
- Community Spay/Neuter Clinic: The low-cost clinic is now scheduled through Brownsburg, with three clinics in February. A van will pick up animals. A grant from Reeves (for homeless residents) is helping to fix animals; about a handful of animals have been served so far, and the grant cycle ends in May. Efforts are underway to reach newly housed individuals.
- Kitty Caravan Transport: In 2025, 98 cats and 2 dogs were sent to Massachusetts. A separate transport to Ohio of 20 cats occurred on February 10.
- Capital Campaign and Harley Raffle: The campaign to match $1 million has raised approximately $780,000. The Harley Davidson raffle drawing was extended to March 21, with only $7,000 in sales so far. Marketing is being expanded to fraternal organizations, bars, and bowling alleys. Table tents are being considered.
- 2025 Statistics: The live release rate reached 92%, achieving no-kill status (90%+ threshold) for the fifth out of six years, up from 88% in 2024.
- Financial Report: The adoption medical fund had a year-to-date balance of $25,656; expenditures in 2025 were $193,407, down from over $200,000 in 2024. Discussion about potentially including a base amount in the budget for this fund.
- Shelter Facility: The current building is experiencing significant water damage, including a ceiling collapse near the washer/dryer. City maintenance and airport staff have worked to mitigate ice dams. Several ceiling sections will need to be replaced.
- New Shelter Building: Doug Sunkel (retired Cummins executive) is serving as project manager. A tour of Hamilton County's shelter informed material and design choices. An RFPQ for construction is expected this month. The sewer line runs through the building and must be moved; groundbreaking is anticipated for late spring or early summer.
- Volunteer and Foster Programs: Volunteer appreciation and recruitment events are planned. Fosters receive all supplies. Adoptions can occur directly from fosters via social media.
- Conflict of Interest Forms: Mary (city attorney) explained that all commission members must file annual conflict of interest forms due to a citywide expansion of the requirement. Forms are now due annually.
- Meeting Materials: The commission discussed moving to digital distribution via Dropbox rather than printed binders. The majority preferred digital; only a few requested hard copies. The director will implement a digital option.
- Ordinance Updates: Minor updates to the animal care ordinance are being compiled by staff and will be reviewed by the ordinance review committee after input from commissioners.
Key Outcomes
- Kelsey Arthur was sworn in as a new commission member.
- The meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
- The director will transition to digital meeting materials via Dropbox, with limited printed copies available.
- The commission will consider deeper dives into individual programs at future meetings.
- The Harley raffle marketing will be expanded to new venues and demographics.
Meeting Transcript
Oh she is yeah I know it's gonna say oh so Jody um Mary says that we can't hear her is she she didn't even she okay can you hear me try it now Mary I am can you hear me it can pick up but it doesn't seem to be um but she yeah can't see Mary I do the attorney for some yeah she says she tried on her and it didn't work so she's gonna call in on the phone does it's green I know can you guys hear me it's just the sound that I have like computers can you guys hear me do we have two mirrors can you hear me hear me showing like she's speaking so volume can you hear me possible she's asking still can't hear me but you see it switched from mute to not you hear me that is very question please sign in can you hear me so we'll just switch over to teams or will it stay with that um that's uh I think so they'll have okay for me technically in order my teams in here so I don't know the oh I thought it came with Microsoft 36 office so yes teens does but the room is set up to complex I mean what I understand so there's lots of team button yes in order to be that I know you mentioned moving the downstairs are we gonna continue to have our meetings here because of all the methods that's the plan we've looked in to other options but determined this is probably the best bit so I can make it my 2026 resolution to actually draw can you guys hear me guys can you hear me now something she's I was playing to but I heard like today that she's not able to make it so Mary's gonna swear can you hear me can she do the best phone I think so that's fine I guess while we're waiting welcome Kelsey thank you do we want to go around and everybody introduce themselves sure I'm Amy Henderson who just met before we're happy to have you thank you Jay force from city council Matt Martill on the police department I'm Jack Shay that I'm the veterinarian just a commission member and you want one and officially Amy's the new chair this year Bill is the new secretary and Joel and um vice chair it's a good team like yeah well thank you I'm excited to be here I'm excited to have you all yeah so is Colleen feel really big about herself it took three people to replace she should be she's like typing those if she would do yeah can you hear me now yes can everybody hear Mary sorry I can hear myself the chain of computer microphone but you guys can it hear me at all we're not sure why but that's right that's okay um at what point in the agenda would you like to start with this Yeah. Hello. Hello. Hello. Can you hear me now? Yes. Can everybody hear Mary? Yes. Okay. Sorry. I can hear myself actually a computer and my phone, but you guys could hear me at all. We're not sure why, but that's right. That's okay. At what point in the agenda would you like to start with the spirit in? Or what's your cost? Yep, I think that makes the most sense. So we can do that, and then I heard questions about the conflict forms, so we can go through the agenda and then I can answer those at any point as well. So okay. Perfect. And since you have usually done this, I can um do you want us to officially stand up for this? Um I can hold the Bible and all of that, be official. I was interested in how she decided to do that, or uh she wants to just sit and raise her right hand. The only thing that I need her to do is make sure she's raising her right hand. Okay. Okay. I'll go over so you can uh sitting as a choice. Okay. Perfect. I'm in front of me. Hi, Kelsey Arthur. I Kelsey Arthur. Do you solemnly swear? Do you solemnly swear? That I will support the Constitution. That I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. Of the United States of America. And the Constitution. And the Constitution. Of the state of Indian. Of the state of Indiana. And that I will faithfully. And that I will faithfully. Impartially and honestly. Impartially and honestly. Discharge the duties of my office. Discharge the duties of my office. As a member of the Animal Care Commission. As a member of the Animal Care Commission. Of the city of Columbus.
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