Animal shelter director resigns

Benton County Animal Shelter Director Sharon Nields announced at an emergency called board meeting on Friday that she would resign at the end of the month for a plethora of reasons, but mainly the lack of consideration by county commissioners. She followed the meeting with a social media post confirming her decision. She wrote, “For those of you that do not know I have put my resignation in at the shelter. I have fought for a year to change how it was run before and I succeeded as the building is cleaner and nicer than it ever was.”

Nields continued, “I have successfully gotten cats and dogs adopted out and rescued and extremely lowered the euthanasia rate to almost nothing. I have been told by so many the shelter looks and smells better than it ever did. That the staff were extremely helping and caring. So yes, I successfully changed the shelter. What I have not changed is the county, the funding, the commissioner’s, besides two of them, and their way of thinking or even caring. That is the biggest part of why I am leaving.”

The daily business of the shelter has reportedly taken a toll on Nields’ well-being. She said, “The stress of dealing with this county and the way they think or run things is ridiculous. I am tired and I am worn out and it shows. I have lost weight big time. I have lost time with my family because I was spending over 400 hours a month trying to change things. My health has gone downhill. I just have nothing left.”

In an exclusive interview, Nields’ partner and former Animal Control Officer (ACO) Ernest Vickers spoke on behalf of the director. He began by addressing her Facebook post announcing her departure. He said, “Sharon has unintentionally used the word county (among other things) in a broad context. I feel, and have expressed to her, that this is unfair to everyone in the county government that has been supportive of her. There are many hard-working individuals in our county government that have been supportive of the shelter, in one way or another.”

“Sharon’s constant uphill battle has been, the filling of an ACO position. The county budget committee has not found the funding of a full time ACO, in the best interest of the county.

Respectfully, this is not a unanimous vote, there were supporters on the committee, for this effort. There are commissioners, that voted for funding an ACO, on two different occasions.

Benton County Mayor (Brett Lashlee) has also attempted to fund an ACO through the county commission. That attempt failed by a close vote. It’s not for trying on Sharon’s part.

She has spoken to any commissioner willing to listen. I also spoke on the matter of funding, to the county commission on two separate occasions, warning of the lack of ACO services, if the county refused to fund a full-time officer,” he explained.

Vickers finished with, “I would like to take a moment to thank everyone that supported her efforts. It is far easier to get caught up in frustration, than in the warmth of embrace. She realizes that now. I urged her to keep her post the way it was, as it was an honest display of her emotions. The community, county, and citizens in general have been amazing.

Fred’s, Cash Saver, other businesses too numerous to list, and our local newspaper, The Camden Chronicle have been major supporting factors in the shelter’s success, and we hope the relationship continues with Sharon’s replacement, whomever that may be.”

Giving Nields the last word, she said, “I pray that whoever takes over in my spot has the heart and compassion to continue to fight to save the animals and to make that place better. I also do have another job lined up where thankfully I still will get to be with animals but I have a team of six others helping and I am not alone. I want to thank everyone who helped me succeeded and stood by me. I have made so many new friends and I treasure those relationship’s. Please continue to adopt, foster and volunteer. I will forever love all of the fur babies.”

Lashlee, after hearing of Nields resignation, responded, “I did my best before becoming the county mayor at researching shelters in counties of our size. I realized we needed a fresh start and immediately felt, upon taking office, that we found the perfect candidate to turn our animal shelter around in Sharon Nields. And she did a tremendous job.”

He continued, “Counties have a responsibility of animal control. A lot of other counties have sheriff’s departments that adopt the responsibility. We are looking at all of our options.

However, I would like to continue the model she helped build. The county is actively seeking a full-time director and a part-time ACO.”