Oak Hill, WV (WOAY) – In a public statement from the Fayette County Humane Society (FCHS), staff members say they are overwhelmed, underfunded, and out of options.
Since taking over as the county’s shelter in 2022, FCHS has rescued thousands of animals.
On Wednesday, in a Facebook post, FCHS says they have done so without meaningful support from county leaders.
Workers state that they have no benefits, no sick days, and no backup, with one staff member reportedly having served for 25 years without a single raise.
According to the shelter, only one commissioner has ever set foot inside the facility.
The Fayette County Commission has since responded to dispute the claims.
In its public statement, the Commission states that it provides significant support to the shelter, including paying utility bills, insuring vehicles, and contributing over $215,000 annually in payroll and administrative costs.
The Commission reports that concerns have been raised about shelter operations.
Commissioners state that to address those issues, they hired two liaison employees to ensure the shelter is adequately maintained and accessible to the public.
County officials report an independent audit is underway to assess the shelter’s management of public funds and donations.
The Commission addresses specific claims, including the shelter’s winter water crisis, stating that staff failed to follow maintenance instructions and did not notify officials in time.
FCHS has denied those claims, publishing screenshots of messages to county officials notifying them of the outage.
A public meeting to discuss the shelter’s future has been scheduled for September 18 at 6:30 PM at the Fayette County Courthouse.
The Commission is urging the public and shelter staff to attend.
