Commissioners honor Humane Society’s president

Published 8:30 am Friday, June 7, 2024

ENTERPRISE — The longtime president of the Wallowa County Humane Society was honored by the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Wednesday, June 5.

Carol Vencill, who has spent decades working to help find homes for stray animals, was presented with a water bottle emblazoned with the words “Outstanding Citizen Award” to recognize her achievement.

“We’d like to acknowledge people who go above and beyond for our community and today we’d like to acknowledge Carol Vencill for all the work she’s done for the Humane Society,” Commission Chairman Todd Nash said. “Most of you know that we don’t have animal control like a dog catcher that we had years ago. It’s one of the things that the county didn’t feel like they could afford. So the Humane Society here does an outstanding job of re-homing animals when possible, conducting a spay-and-neuter program.”

Commissioners John Hillock and Susan Roberts added their words of appreciation. They acknowledged both the work of Vencill and the volunteers who assist her in the animal-control efforts of the society.

Vencill also operates the “Re-Tail Boutique” on Enterprise’s Main Street, which helps raise money for the society. The boutique also serves as a hub to adopt out stray cats. She also coordinates the volunteer foster families that help care for homeless dogs. The society works with local veterinary clinics when homeless pets are in need of medical care and has arranged to get a discount on the vet costs.

Last year, Vencill said, the society took in 25 dogs and 47 cats and has a network of 11 foster homes for dogs. The county has a kennel behind Double Arrow Veterinary Clinic that can be used, but no regular animal-control officer.

“We really appreciate the support of the community,” Vencill said. “We couldn’t do it without our volunteers and without your help. It keeps us going. We’ve come a long way since 1980.”

The society was incorporated in 1980. Vencill has been with the society since 1991 and has been president since the early 2010s.

She acknowledged that Wallowa County needs animal control, but added that the funding isn’t there.

“We do need animal control, but times are different,” she said after the meeting. “They’ve got to be paid. But there is a need. If we could get somebody to volunteer, volunteers keep things going.”

In other business at their Wednesday meeting, the commissioners:

• Adopted the finding of facts, conclusions of law and a decision on to reject a request by Shin Nakato on behalf of EW Trust to rezone approximately 24.4 acres from exclusive farm use to rural service. The adoption comes after public hearings and the opportunity for public comment.

• Approved an intrafund transfer of $5,000 for Public Works/Roads and a correction of the fund for asphalt from contingency to a storage shed.

• Approved a request for $6,000 submitted by Gary Bethscheider for the “Shake the Lake” Fourth of July fireworks display the county often helps fund. Roberts suggested the money come from the Video Lottery Fund, as the fireworks event helps promote the county’s economy. The commissioners initially considered the Transient Lodging Fund, but it’s been tapped into recently and the commissioners wanted to preserve the more than $7,000 that is left.

• Approved three easements, for Bill Ables to install PVC irrigation pipe along Lime Quarry Road near Enterprise, for Ben Henson to install a primary underground cable on Redmond Grade Lane between Troy and Flora and for Jeremy Parham to install a buried fiber optic cable at the intersection of Alder Slope and Reavis Lane near Enterprise.

• Changed the date of the June 19 commissioners meeting, since Juneteenth is a federal holiday, to Thursday, June 20.