LCAS closing: 'There's no loss in the care provided to the animals'

EUGENE, Ore. - From the pooches to the purring kittens, they are the sweet faces that animal lover Kylie Belachaikovsky shows up to work for everyday.

"I've been working here at Lane County Animal Services for 8 years," said Belachaikovsky, Senior Animal Welfare Officer.

But this weekend, everything will change for her as an animal welfare officer.

After Saturday, Lane County will no longer be operating the animal shelter and adoptive services on 1st Avenue.

"A new care provider will be stepping in and that's Greenhill Humane Society," Belachaikovsky said.

LCAS and Greenhill Humane Society are continuing to negotiate a contract. Greenhill could take over the shelter as early as Sunday.

According to LCAS officials, shelter and adoption services will continue to run at the same location on 1st Avenue.

"From what we can see now, there's no loss in the care provided to the animals,"  Belachaikovsky said.

However, a few challenges are anticipated in the transition with Greenhill.

"They're handling the stray, neglected, and abandoned animals, that's a very different population from what they currently serve," Belachaikovsky said.

Not only is the transition challenging for the animals, but also for those working in the shelter.

Belachaikovsky said it is a difficult transition for her as it nearly cuts her salary in half.

"I'll be taking 4 demotions back down to a different position," Belachaikovsky said.

But Belachaikovsky said animal welfare officers at the shelter plan to continue caring for animals in the same progressive fashion as before.

"We are confident that the philosophies between LCAS and Greenhill are similar enough that there shouldn't be any drastic changes for the animals," Belachaikovsky said.

And for Belachaikovsky, she said that caring for the animals is what it is all about.

"We're just making sure those animals don't fall through the cracks," Belachaikovsky said.

The contract is still in the works between LCAS and Greenhill Humane Society and the transition could be completed as early as Sunday.