������Ƶ

Sarah Javier, the APA’s president and CEO, said in an email to donors that “the turnaround at Olivette has been dramatic” and the county shelter is in “a strong operational and logistical state.”

Now the APA wants to put its efforts elsewhere, she said.

“While it may feel like an ending, this is in fact a new beginning for our entire team, one that will expand our capacity and our reach in this community to do our vital work,” Javier wrote in the email, sent Thursday.

Some, however, cautioned the county would have to be careful as it takes back shelter operations.

“It cannot go back to what it was,” said Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, a Democrat from Bel-Nor.

The county began contracting with the APA in December 2022 to operate the shelter after repeated criticism of the facility when it was run by the county itself. Residents, animal advocates and county workers had complained of poor conditions, understaffing, overpopulation and other problems.

Days after the APA took over the facility that year, Javier blasted the county for leaving the shelter in shambles, dogs neglected.

Her staff found layers of feces in kennels, dogs that hadn’t been walked in weeks, a lack of vaccinations, and some animals so aggressive, likely from months of isolation, staff had no options but to euthanize them, she said then in a letter to the Post-Dispatch.

The APA and the county agreed on a five-year, $15.8 million contract to clean up the shelter and run it.

But Mack Bradley, an APA spokesman, said Friday that the deal allowed either side to end it at any time.

Javier said the APA’s board made the decision Tuesday “after careful deliberation.”

APA officials said returning the shelter to county management will allow the nonprofit to focus on its next major initiative to build more pet adoption capacity in the region.

Bradley said that could involve adding a new facility run by the nonprofit in addition to the organization’s own longstanding shelter in Brentwood. He said the APA is looking at other parts of the county but didn’t elaborate.

County Executive Sam Page, in a joint release with the APA, said county officials appreciated the nonprofit’s work to improve the county facility.

“Our shelter is in much better shape, and we have the tools in place to continue the important work (the health department) does in animal control, including adoption of animals,” Page said.

Under the APA-county arrangement, the release said, there have been nearly 4,000 pet adoptions, more than 2,000 pets were reunited with families, nearly 1,600 were placed with foster families and more than 1,000 were transferred to rescue partners.

The transitioning back to county management will occur over the next several months, the release said.

Days, the councilwoman, cautioned that the county will have to take the new work seriously.

To keep the shelter from returning to a dismal state, she said, the health department will have to hire experts in the field and “not just anybody who needs a job.”

The county health director, Dr. Kanika Cunningham, said she didn’t know yet how many county employees will need to be added to restaff the facility but that it would be at least 20.

She also said the county isn’t considering outsourcing the shelter’s management to another entity. She said she’s aware of the past problems at the shelter but is confident that the county will do a better job in the future after its collaboration with the APA.

She said the APA’s decision did not come as a surprise and that “definitely we’re parting ways on a good note.”

Kelsey Landis of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.