The Humane Society of Harford County told the County Council at a budget work session that its FY26 operating budget is under strain despite a recommended county increase. Ben, a county budget presenter, said the county’s recommended FY26 allocation appears in the operating budget book as $1,337,000 — an increase of $150,000 funded from the general fund.

That increase, board president George Heidelmeyer said, is appreciated but insufficient. “We have a newly appointed executive director, Amanda Hickman,” Heidelmeyer said, and he thanked the council for continued support while outlining the shelter’s needs. “We are confident that with her leadership, we will usher in a new era of collaboration and progress for our organization,” he added.

Nut graf: The Humane Society says caseloads and costs have shifted in ways the shelter’s current operations and funding do not absorb: public intakes have declined slightly but animal-control intakes rose sharply, with a particular surge in farm and exotic animals that the shelter’s facilities were not built to hold.

Amanda Hickman, the shelter’s executive director, told the council the shelter is now fully staffed and has launched an animal behavior program and a marketing plan. But she said the composition of intakes is changing. “Public intakes have decreased by 7% from the public, but animal control intakes have surged by 34%…Of those 34% we’ve seen a 127% increase in farm animals and exotic animals,” Hickman said, adding that the shelter has only a single barn for farm animals and the increased numbers require longer stays, more medical care and additional resources.

Hickman said 48% of the shelter’s income currently comes from the county and that roughly 51% of animals brought to the shelter arrive through animal control. She said operating costs rose “approximately 25%” over the last year — citing inflation, supplies, utilities and medical costs — and that the shelter has been operating at a deficit. Hickman said the organization is doubling its fundraising goal for the coming fiscal year and is evaluating staff cuts and possible reductions in public services if revenue gaps are not addressed.

Council members pressed the Humane Society on specific complaints that have appeared in public comment. Hickman said the shelter’s euthanasia policy has not changed, but the organization has “streamlined” and formalized written procedures and now uses a medical director or a cross-department “pathways committee” to review cases and make recommendations. “Those decisions are not made by any one individual…we look at overall quality of life. We look at potential placement for that animal,” she said.

Council members and public speakers also asked about fundraising, donated-food programs and volunteer support. Hickman said the shelter distributed roughly 1,700 bags of pet food last year (a 53% increase) and maintains an Amazon/Walmart wish list and social media outreach for urgent needs. Board members described a major new donor program (the “Vos society”) to identify recurring higher-dollar contributors; the board said some legacy bequests help cover shortfalls but are not a sustainable operating revenue stream.

Ending: The Humane Society urged the council to consider longer-term funding or an MOU update to reflect operational realities; council members said they would follow up and explore options, including discussing transparency and monthly data reporting and the operational cost to publish a public dashboard.