Indianapolis Animal Care Services Board Meeting - July 20, 2026
Indianapolis Animal Care Services Board Meeting - July 20, 2026
The Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) Board met on July 20, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. to approve several contracts, review June 2026 shelter statistics, and discuss operations. The meeting was called to order by Chair Chris Roberson with members Miles, Amanda Dehoney (Director), Bailey Red Sheet, and James Friendlyston (CFO) present.
New Business: Contract Approvals
- Resolution 0626: Approved a two-year contract for licensed veterinary services with Dr. Freeland for $1,000. The contract provides flexibility in hours and does not require annual renewal. Discussion included how similar contracts are structured to allow reallocation across a shared budget. Motion carried unanimously.
- Resolution 0726: Approved a small contract extension with Dr. Birchfield, currently under contract through end of 2026. The draft agreement is still being finalized. Motion carried unanimously.
- Resolution 0826: Approved a two-year amendment to the Chameleon software contract with HLE Inc. The software is used for dispatch, animal tracking, and integration with the Mac Center. Pricing has not increased. The draft agreement is still under review by legal. Motion carried unanimously.
Shelter Statistics Report (June 2026)
Director Amanda Dehoney presented monthly stats:
- Intake: 847 total (year-to-date 4,896)
- Outcomes: 716
- Live release rate: 90.25%
- Capacity: Not provided, but shelter was "pretty full" especially with cats after a sudden influx of litters with panleukopenia.
- Owner surrender wait times: Reconstructed intake schedule to reduce wait times; summer is busy season.
- Enforcement stats: ACO reports 256, fights 89, citations 175, impounds 87, service calls 2,046 (up from 1,605 in June 2025).
- Vacancies: Rescue and foster coordinator positions filled (started previous week). Full-time veterinarian position remains open despite salary increase to $150,000. Contract veterinarian availability varies (Humane Society vets, Dr. Birchfield 1-2 times/week, Dr. Freeland pending).
- Volunteer report: 66 new volunteers in training, 22 active new, 227 total active. Shelter hours 1,075, special events 73, doggy day out 56, total 1,204 hours. Doggy day out hours fluctuate; possible reasons discussed (events, weather).
Policy Discussion: Wait Times and Euthanasia
Board members discussed public concerns about long wait times for owner surrenders and stray drop-offs. One member noted that the shelter does not euthanize for space, leading to wait times of up to four weeks for strays. A conversation ensued about the ethics of euthanasia versus allowing animals to suffer on the streets. Members emphasized that live release rate is not the only measure; humane treatment should be prioritized. No consensus on a solution but acknowledged the need for public education.
Dog Park Update
Director Dehoney provided an update on the four-acre dog park in front of the shelter (split into turf and grass sections for small and large dogs). The park is not yet open to the public; shelter staff and volunteers currently use it. She is in discussions with the Parks Department about retaining or sharing the space. However, if opened to the public, shelter animals cannot use it due to vaccine and registration requirements. The issue remains under negotiation.
Budget Update
CFO James Friendlyston reported that the shelter submitted its budget request and revenue forecasts several weeks ago. The city's proposed budget will be released in early August. A public hearing is scheduled for late August (Community Affairs Committee meeting around August 28). The shelter requested significant increases for staff (especially council), supplies, and contract services due to the upcoming move to a new shelter. Board members requested the draft budget be emailed to them.
Key Outcomes
- All three resolutions (0626, 0726, 0826) approved unanimously.
- The next board meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
- The budget draft will be shared with board members via email.
- The director will continue discussions with Parks Department regarding the dog park.
- No formal action taken on the wait time/euthanasia policy discussion.
Meeting Transcript
We will go ahead and call to order the board of Indianapolis Animal Care Services. It is July 20th at 8:30 a.m. We'll start with introductions. Chris Roberson, mayoral appointee to the board. Correct. Miles, mayoral appointee to the board. Amanda Dehoney, Director of IACS. Bailey Red Sheet Board Council. And James Friendlyston, CFO, and acting as board secretary for today. Alright, first on the agenda is the adoption of minutes. Okay. I have one note. Last name needs to be updated. I have noted that I say that. Second. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed. Correct. New business. We have James for resolution 0626. Alright. Right. This is for why can't I repeat? Alright, this is for licensed veterinary services for a thousand dollars for a two-year contract with uh Dr. Freeland. Um recommended to us uh and we are excited to try and pursue that and see how things go. Uh I'm not exactly clear on how many exact hours per month, but it's built in there for so we don't have to come back every year as well as there's flexibility for the amount of hours you can come in. So he would be coming into the shelter to provide services here. Correct. Any other questions? James, can you just explain when when we have a series of contracts that are structured as enough to exceed a month? I mean, let's just say we had 10 of these amounting to a million dollars of veterinary services. If we're halfway through the year and we're not tracking to spend that full million dollars. Does it does it or can it be reappropriated to the contracts are saying we are allowed to send up to this amount? It is not time. I'm not tying 100,000 for or $50,000 every time for each of those contracts if they're $50,000, 150,000. Especially with say the spay neuter clinics where it's we are given a total spay neuter budget, and if we added up all the spay newer clinic budget contracts, they would exceed that budget, so it's just some flexibility through which they look based on availability since they're providing basically the same services. Okay, thanks. Okay, motion to approve. So move. Second, all favor say aye. Second opposed. Alright, resolution 0726. Uh gonna be a very small contract uh with Dr. who's currently under contract with us that expires at the end of the year. Um may be aware that it used to be the vet here back a couple years ago. We've had it on a uh small contract for the last couple years, and we extended it back in December. Uh that was the board resolution I think from October or November, and now we're pursuing another one. I'm still draft agreements before submitting.
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