Forsyth County Names New Animal Shelter Manager

Patch Staff Report

As Forsyth County prepares for the opening of its new animal shelter this summer, the county has hired an animal shelter manager to lead shelter operations. Chris Peninger joined the county staff on Monday.

According to a news release, Peninger is an experienced animal welfare professional with more than 20 years of training and experience in the fields of animal sheltering, community outreach and administration. She worked previously with the York County, South Carolina Animal Control Division and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Animal Care and Control Division and served on response teams to assist with animals displaced during Hurricane Katrina.

As manager of Forsyth County’s animal shelter, Peninger will supervise, coordinate and manage the daily activities of the animal shelter personnel, enforcing the provisions of federal, state and local codes and ordinances applicable to animal shelter activities. She will be responsible for the oversight of animal care, upkeep of the animal shelter facility, the animal adoption process and of the shelter’s community outreach programs.

“We are very pleased to welcome Chris to the county staff,” Deputy County Manager Tim Merritt said in the release. “Her experience and skills will be a great asset to the county as we prepare for and open our new animal shelter.”

Ground was broken for the animal shelter March 20, 2013. Funded by the voter-approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VII program, the new shelter will be located on County Way off of GA 400 in northern Forsyth County. The approximately 13,700-square foot facility will replace the current arrangement in which the county contracts out shelter operations.

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WATCH: Breaking Ground on Forsyth's New Animal Shelter