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2/20/2004


Media Contact:

Steve Campbell, [317] 327-3622
Jo Lynn Garing, [317] 327-3690 
 
Mayor, Public Safety Director appoint administrator for Animal Care and Control


INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Bart Peterson and Public Safety Director Robert Turner have appointed Jeffrey Bennett to be the Indianapolis Animal Care and Control administrator. Bennett replaces Jim Garrard, who now serves as director of the Department of Public Works.

"Jeff Bennett has proven himself in his role as the city's township administrator for Warren Township," Mayor Peterson said. "His experience working with community and neighborhood leaders will be a great asset to our city animal shelter."

As a township administrator since 2001, Bennett acted as a city liaison to Warren Township, leading meetings with neighborhood leaders to address community needs, organizing outreach efforts and providing information on city government to residents. Bennett also assisted in the creation of the Eastside Revitalization District, which has resulted in more than $11 million in new investment in the area.

Prior to joining city government, Bennett served in various positions at the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.

"Animal Care and Control has seen many recent successes," Director Turner said. "I'm confident Jeff can continue this trend."

In the last few years, Indianapolis Animal Care and Control has dramatically increased outreach and education efforts and worked with volunteer groups and local media to raise public awareness of the city's shelter and animal-related issues in an effort to increase adoptions and lower euthanasia rates at the shelter.

In addition, the shelter:

  • Created a not-for-profit foundation to help raise funds for improvements to the shelter;
  • Ensured all adopted animals are spayed or neutered prior to joining their new home;
  • Procured state-of-the-art shelter management software to improve efficiency and customer service at the shelter;
  • Established new, more humane policies on adoptable animals and euthanasia criteria; and
  • Improved the facility by installing fencing for potential owners to take animals outside and for volunteers to walk dogs, creating a more customer-friendly atmosphere at the shelter.