Gage County Board okays Beatrice Humane Society allocation

BEATRICE – The Gage County Board Wednesday approved a new annual funding allotment for the Beatrice Humane Society, but not before one supervisor called into question what the county pays, and whether taxpayer funds support competition for private veterinarians.

Board member Emily Haxby, who works part-time for the Pickrell Veterinary Clinic, addressed the $17,000 the county pays, compared to the $30,000 paid by Beatrice City Government.

"The county is paying $191 and one-cent per animal....which is substantially more, more than double than what the city is paying."

Recently, the Humane Society requested city auditorium space to provide what was described as a low-cost spay and neuter surgical clinic. That has brought concerns from a local veterinary, Dr. Jennafer Glaesmann, who operates the Pickrell and Blue Valley Veterinary Clinics.

"In 2019 to 2021, we actually discounted surgeries by five-thousand, nine hunded and seventy dollars for the Humane Society. But then again, we have not been requested to do any surgeries for them since January, 2021."

There’s been no action to this point, on the Humane Society proposal presented to the City of Beatrice.

Veterinary Technician Jeanene Fitzwater works for Veterinarian Dr. Robert Baxa..and spoke about the lack of appointments from the Humane Society.
"Dr. Baxa and Dr. Glaesmann and Dr. Julie (Knoerzer) have all donated time...and the original agreement was that each veterinarian that was involved with the Humane Society would take a month...we would alternate months. That worked well for a long time...and then, we were slowly pushed out. We've been offered nothing, since April."

Dr. Baxa told county officials “we don’t want to get into any personality problem, here”….and said the county agreement with the Humane Society has been a good one.

"They're doing a good job out at the shelter. But, sometimes, there's been a problem as far as communication....both with this thing coming up but also through the clinics and the shelter. You have a problem there with this low-cost clinic which is causing some problems. I think your contract as a board, is pretty good."

Other county supervisors said they did not want to get involved in the day-to-day operations of the Humane Society and its shelter. County Attorney Roger Harris said the county is simply acquiring a service that is used by Sheriff Millard Gustafson’s office.  "There are some issues out here, that quite frankly, don't affect the county. I'll just be blunt. I know these vets and they have provided a great service over the years. That's not the issue. Gus needs the service."

Both Director of the Humane Society Shelter, Carlee Fiddes and Humane Society Board Chairman John Rypma met with county officials Wednesday…providing information about shelter numbers.

Rypma said in addition to city and county funding, the society gets private donor support and money from animal adoption fees.
"In 2020, that number was 52%. The amount that the city paid and that the county paid...which was the same, the adoptions fees covered 52%. That means we had to ask the community for 48% of our overhead, from donations. To me, that's a huge accomplishment for the community and for the animals."
After the lengthy discussion, the county board voted 6-0, with one member absent, to allocate $17,000 to the Beatrice Humane Society for the coming year.