9/9/14 - The director of Livingston County Animal Control is retiring to head out west with her family. However, succession planning will be getting underway soon to try and hire a replacement prior to her departure. Debbie Oberle will be retiring effective at the end of March and has a lengthy history with Livingston County that spans years of volunteer work in the animal welfare arena and with the local Humane Society. Oberle tells WHMI she doesnât know if retirement is really possible since animal welfare seems to be in her blood and started with the first cat she ever fostered 25 years ago. Sheâll be moving out west sometime next summer with her family but figures sheâll eventually work her way back into the field again. Oberle will have served in her current position for four and a half years by the time she departs and commended all of the staff, volunteers and rescue groups. She says a lot has been accomplished and adoptions are up, intake is down and the number of cases being processed are also way up. Oberle is said to have implemented several positive procedural changes to improve the atmosphere of the animal shelter as well as enforcement. County officials say Oberle has built positive relationships with animal rescue groups and two programs under her leadership have greatly reduced overcrowding at the animal shelter, also noting the prompt response to animals-at-large and abuse/neglect complaints. Oberle will be involved in the hiring process and the request to fill the position was made several months in advance to help ensure a smooth transition, but also in part because finding a replacement could prove to be a difficult endeavor. Some surrounding counties and others across the state have been experiencing difficulties filling their respective animal control director positions. The request will go before the county finance committee this Wednesday morning and then the full board for final approval. (JM)
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