Clermont to the Rescue Humane Society president Eva DeVaughn, right, and shelter director Misty Hale, talk about animals that are available for adoption at the shelter. Clermont to the Rescue took over at the shelter Jan. 1.

Clermont to the Rescue Humane Society president Eva DeVaughn, right, and shelter director Misty Hale, talk about animals that are available for adoption at the shelter. Clermont to the Rescue took over at the shelter Jan. 1.
By Kristin Rover
Sun staff

Clermont to the Rescue Humane Society staff are adjusting to their new home at the Clermont County Animal Shelter.

The organization was awarded a contract from Clermont County Commissioners to run the shelter in December.

The former organization, Clermont County Humane Society, submitted a bid but was not selected. The humane society’s contract ended December 31 of last year.

Staff with the organization was surprised that the humane society did not be receive the contract.

“We were very shocked by that,” Bonnie Morrison, former director of the shelter, said after the decision was made. “We had experience, knowledge, respect. We’ve always had animal welfare as our mission.”

The transition for Clermont to the Rescue was rougher than Eva DeVaughn, president of Clermont to the Rescue, would have hoped.

“There was nothing, absolutely nothing,” DeVaughn said about what was left at the shelter. “One chair, a pile of kitty litter. There was nothing on the walls.”

But, DeVaughn said with the help of volunteers and county officials, they are settling in.

“The first two days we had a lot of people in there,” DeVaughn said. “A lot of volunteers cleaning.”

Two weeks later, DeVaughn said aside from receiving numerous prank phone calls, things have improved.

“Things have calmed down,” DeVaughn said. “We’re moving forward, we have support, we’re very happy.”

Clermont to the Rescue has been accepting animals since they moved in, and DeVaughn said they’ve already completed adoptions, worked with rescue organizations to take animals and have received a grant to spay and neuter animals.

“We’re just working on grants and taking care of animals,” DeVaughn said.

Clermont County Commissioners appointed Jeff Prebble to be the new Chief Dog Warden for the county at their Dec. 31 meeting.

Prebble comes to the position with 30 years of experience in law enforcement, including 27 years as a deputy sheriff and two years as a police chief, he said. He began his new position on Jan. 2.

Prebble’s goal as the warden is to find more dogs than wardens before him, he said.

The hours of the animal shelter, located at 4025 Filager Road, are Monday and Tuesday 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday noon until 5 p.m., DeVaughn said. The shelter is closed on Thursday.

For more information about Clermont to the Rescue or the animal shelter, call (513) 732-8854.

Reporter Kelly Doran contributed to this story.