Search is on for Animal Control Warden

Kendall County is seeking two new Animal Control administrators for its Yorkville facility.

Anne Vickery, chair of the county board’s Animal Control committee, said the county is advertising for a warden and will hire an assistant warden, as well. The facility relied more heavily on part-time staff after the last assistant warden left in May 2010.

The new warden will replace Christine Johnson, after acknowledging she euthanized the wrong dog in the wake of a child being bitten at the facility.

Vickery said the facility had been “running lean and mean” for months as revenues – largely rabies tag and other fees – decreased and shelter animals increased. But county leaders plan to hire a professional to lead the program and to pay him or her accordingly.

“Throwing a bunch of money at something has never solved anything,” Vickery said. “But hiring people who will work with us to make this a better run, more professional place is what we’re hoping to do.”

County leaders have since the July 3 attack was publicized. The facility no longer accepts court-ordered community service workers and volunteers under the age of 18. Leaders also converted one of two rooms that housed cats into an adoption area for the public to interact with animals.

Four part-time workers have staffed the facility since Johnson left, with County Administrator Jeff Wilkins overseeing them.

Johnson, who began working for the county in October 2002, saw her annual pay increase from $32,311 in 2007 to $37,068 this year, according to information Patch received through a Freedom of Information Act request. The assistant warden, who was hired in February 2002, made $28,591 when she left in May 2010.

In recent years, part-time kennel aides have been paid between $8.25 and $11.22 an hour.

The full warden job posting is available on the county website. Applications are due Aug. 26.

Meanwhile, a group of five owners and employees of Oswego and Yorkville pet-care businesses met with county officials, including Vickery, Tuesday to discuss improvements at the facility.

Katherine Manola, owner of in downtown Oswego, said she is optimistic Animal Control will see improvements in the coming months. To that end, the group will host a training class for Animal Control volunteers from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at Nurture Your Pets in Yorkville with Angela Murray of Nurture Your Pets and Mare Potts of FlyDogs. A cleanup of the facility is set for the following day.