ASHLAND — Ashland County commissioners hired a new kennel manager for the dog shelter on Thursday.
Patricia Hootman, 60, was promoted from a part-time kennel worker position that she started in March 2023. She served as a volunteer a month or two before the part-time promotion, she said.
Thursday’s hire comes two days following the resignation of Megan Vaught. Commissioners approved of the verbal resignation during a meeting on Jan. 23.
Hootman’s hire becomes effective on Jan. 28. Commissioners set her starting wage at $16 per hour and she is to work a 40-hour week, according to the county’s resolution. The vote, minus absent Denny Bittle, was unanimous.
Commissioner Jim Justice described Hootman as “the Energizer Bunny” at the dog shelter.
“You’re there all the time,” he said. “And we do appreciate that.”
Hootman, a life-long Ashland resident, encouraged the commissioners to “bear with her” as she learns the new responsibilities of the job, which includes paperwork and other managerial duties.
The new kennel manager holds an associate’s degree in business management from North Central State College. She graduated from the program in 2009. She doesn’t have managerial experience and she does not have more than a year’s worth of volunteer and part-time work with the dog shelter.
But she has four golden retriever dogs at home and she’s sticking with the mantra repeated around the shelter often:
“It’s all about the dogs,” she said in a separate interview with Ashland Source at her new office. “Taking care of them and their needs and trying to get them into their forever, loving home.”
And she has the confidence from the dog warden, Joe Eggerton.
“She does a phenomenal job,” he said. “She’s a team player, she’s a good leader and a good woman … she’s a wonderful worker.”
The job came about quickly for Hootman. In fact, the county did not advertise for it, preferring to hire internally.
“It was like, all of a sudden, you know? Within like a week, or couple weeks. Because I was like, ‘No I don’t want the job.’ I had no interest. I love doing what I’m doing. I’m 60 years old,” she said.
‘A good manager’
But she kept hearing from volunteers around the shelter that she would be great for the gig.
One of them happens to be the head of volunteers, Veronica Negrey.
“We all seem to get along with Trish,” Negrey said, characterizing her as a hard worker. “And she’s particular about the cleanliness of the shelter, the distribution of medications.
“She keeps herself very informed with No Pawz Left Behind and their knowledge. I think she’s going to be a good manager.”
Negrey said she believes the shift change between kennel managers will be the catalyst of the general betterment at the shelter.
“The communication with commissioners will point us in the right direction,” she said. “(Commissioners) are so willing to get together with us … I believe they’re on board with making this the best shelter it can be.”
‘We’re a no-kill shelter’
When asked on her perspective of the policy that allows dogs housed at the shelter for more than a year to be euthanized, Hootman said she disagrees with it.
She said the commissioners wanted dog shelter staff to read and sign the policy document — but the signatures were only to show they’ve read it, Hootman said.
So she signed it.
“But I don’t agree with the euthanasia policy,” Hootman said. “But we’ve never euthanized any dogs here just to make room.”
She is hopeful that particular “one-year” euthanasia rule will be revised and fixed, Hootman said.
“We are a no-kill shelter, unless the veterinarians recommend it,” she said.