Maddie Tuxhorn, marketing director for Caring Hands Humane Society, asked commissioners to increase Harvey County’s annual contribution from $9,000 to $11,000 to help cover higher intake and program costs.

Tuxhorn said Caring Hands is an open‑admission shelter that accepts all Harvey County stray animals and now handles roughly 2,000 animals per year, up from about 1,400 previously. She told the commissioners that demand for services has increased staff and operational needs and that the shelter is also expanding programs that benefit public safety and animal health, including a pet food bank for owners in need, spay and neuter services for feral cat colonies, and an outreach program called Linda Paw to prevent preventable shelter intakes.

Funding sources for the shelter include donations, limited endowments, city contracts, county funding, boarding and adoption fees, and revenue from memorial and cremation services. Tuxhorn said the requested increase would help the shelter meet state regulations for care and to maintain services that support law enforcement and public safety by providing a place to take stray or dangerous animals.

Ending: Commissioners had no questions and thanked Caring Hands for its services. The funding request will be reviewed as part of the county’s budget deliberations.