ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A new chapter is beginning at the St. Louis County Animal Care and Control Shelter (ACC) in Olivette. The county has launched a Pilot Volunteer Program, designed to enhance animal welfare and promote responsible pet ownership.
County officials are urging people to get involved. In a news release, Dr. Kanika Cunningham, Director of the Department of Public Health, emphasized the importance of volunteer feedback in shaping the program, stating:
“During the pilot program, we will be seeking feedback from all the participants so that we can make it the best volunteer program ever.”
Applications are being accepted online at stlouiscountymo.gov. The deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 25.
This transition comes after the APA of Missouri officially handed over the keys to the Olivette animal shelter back to the county and successfully placed the remaining animals in foster homes or transferred them to the APA’s flagship location in Brentwood.
The APA had originally entered a five-year, $16 million contract with St. Louis County in Dec. 2022. However, the APA’s Board of Directors made the decision to end the contract early, stating:
“This decision was made with thoughtful consideration for both the animals as well as the APA as an organization. We were hired to turn around a struggling shelter, which we did successfully. It was determined that our impact could be greater by shifting our focus to the expansion of programs and services elsewhere.”
Meanwhile, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and Dr. Cunningham will host an open house for members of the media on Monday at 11 a.m., giving select groups a behind-the-scenes tour of the shelter and an inside look at the program’s goals.