Pet of the Month

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

At each monthly regular meeting, the Burke County Board of Commissioners receive a presentation from the Animal Services Director, Kaitlin Settlemyre, who features two adoptable pets (a dog and a cat) from the county’s animal shelter. The purpose of this program is to: (1) get the featured pets adopted or fostered quickly, (2) get the dog out of the shelter for a bit to improve their mental health, (2) give the shelter staff an additional opportunity to learn more about the dog's behavior in a public setting, (4) raise awareness about the multitude of cats and dogs at the shelter waiting for their forever homes, (5) encourage citizens to spay or neuter their pets to prevent births of unintended litters, and (6) update the elected officials and citizens on the shelter’s activities and adoption promotions. The cat of the month is featured by a short PowerPoint presentation since they do not travel well. We have learned that having a shelter dog at the meeting also has many other positive outcomes that cannot be quantified in dollars. The presence of a shelter dog brings a smile to everyone’s face, it reduces stress, anxiety and nervousness that elected officials, county staff, and constituents experience at a public meeting. Featuring adoptable pets at a county commissioners’ meeting sets the tone of rest of the meeting and it is our belief that having a live animal there makes elected officials and staff better public servants.