Indianapolis Animal Care Services to become independent agency
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Animal Care Services will become an independent agency following a historic city-county council vote Monday.
The council passed proposal 256 , which outlines components of the new animal care agency set to take effect Jan. 1. IACS is currently under the direction Department of Business and Neighborhood Services .
The plan aims to address was city leaders have long called an animal welfare crisis in the city. It adds over $1.1 million to the shelter’s current budget, increasing the current $6,985,677 budget to $8,138,806 in 2025.
“It basically just gives us a little bit more freedom and kind of removes … a little bit of ‘red tape’ that we have to go through for BNS,” Colleen Walker, IACS public information officer, said.
The plan also adds funding for a chief financial officer and an office manager. Both are positions the shelter currently operates without because they rely on BNS.