A new program starting at the Clark County Animal Shelter hopes to reduce the number of animals entering the facility as well as the ever-growing public cat community.

Dr. Sara Pizano, a veterinarian and consultant with Team Shelter USA, spoke to the Clark County Fiscal Court Wednesday about her program.

Pizano said the program offers other options, beyond just taking the cat to the shelter to be surrendered and likely euthanized. The goal is to help owners keep their animals at home or in their own environment, rather than in a shelter, she said.

Pizano said the Clark County shelter saved 92 percent of all dogs brought into the shelter in 2018. Cats, on the other hand, had only a 48 percent save rate. Only one cat was returned to its owner, she said.

“We euthanize very few dogs,” Clark County Animal Shelter Director Adreanna Wills said. “With cats, it depends on the season.”

The plan, Pizano said, is to lower the number of animals coming into the shelter which, in turn, will lower the euthanasia rate. A shelter, she said, should be for animals with no other options.

With fewer animals coming in, there should be more resources available for the animals that need the help.

“If we could spay or neuter and put them back, it’s a good way for population control,” Wills said.

Wills said the City of Winchester has committed $15,000 to start the program to focus on “community cats,” whether feral or just outside cats. With that seed money, Wills said the shelter can offer $15 spay or neuter services and vaccinations for families that can show proof of household income of $33,000 or less.

“We hope this will be a starting point,” Wills said.”We’ll continue to seek grants and we’ll accept donations for spay-neuter.”

Wills said treated cats will likely have the tip of their left ear clipped, as a visible sign they have been vaccinated and neutered or spayed.

“If they see a cat with its left ear tipped, that beans its being cared for,” Wills said. “As long as they’re healthy and not injured, we want them to stay where they are.”

In other action Wednesday, the court:

— noted training incentive payments to Magistrate Robert Blanton and treasurer Jerry Madden.

— increased the salary for the part-time financial administrative assistant from $11 an hour to $11.63.

— accepted the resignation of Julie Cantrell from the county attorney’s office.

— approved an order to hire Nova Rison as an administrative assistant for the county attorney’s office.

— approved an order to replace an air conditioning unit in the courthouse annex.