New animal services director happy to be home

Before Hurricane Katrina, Riverview native Ian Hallett had never set foot in an animal shelter. But after watching refugees pile into Austin, Texas, with pets they had risked their lives to protect, Hallett was compelled to make a visit and a difference.Soon after, he began volunteering at Austin Animal Services, and within two years was supervisor of animal care. Artificial Landscape,By August 2011, he was in charge of a shelter housing 20,000 dogs and cats.

Hallett, 35, returned home in June to become director of Hillsborough County Animal Services. He hadn't planned on leaving Austin, but coming back just seemed like destiny, he said. In March, while he was here visiting his father in the hospital, the animal services job was posted on the county's website, he said.He felt like he could make a difference here,Dinopark Tyrannosaurus Rides in Outdoor, too.

"At one time, the Austin shelter had a euthanasia rate of 60 percent, and we were able to get that down to 10 percent or less," Hallett said.Right now, Hillsborough County Animal Services has a euthanasia rate of about 65 percent."I hope to half that number and save at least 65 to 75 percent of our animals," Hallett said.Starting in November, Hallett wants to recruit more volunteers and open the shelter seven days a week until 7 p.m. with the goal of adopting out more animals.