Today, Franklin County Commissioners were joined by the Capital Area Humane Society,
Franklin County staff, central Ohio area animal rescue groups, volunteers, community partners
and the animal welfare community as they introduced Kaye L. Dickson as the new Director for
Franklin County’s Dog Shelter & Adoption Center.
As Director, Dickson will oversee an agency which employs 60, including 20 deputy wardens
and operates the state’s only around-the-clock enforcement schedule.
“Finding the right leadership for this agency has been of high importance to me,” said
Commission President Marilyn Brown. “Under Director Dickson’s watch, the Shelter’s top priority
will remain the safety of our residents and families while always striving to provide
compassionate and humane care to the dogs that find themselves in our facility.”
Dickson, an Ohio native, has spent her career working for Pinal County, Arizona. Ms. Dickson
relocated from Marion, Ohio to Phoenix, AZ in 1983 where she obtained a Bachelor of Science
in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Public Administration from
Grand Canyon University.
Ms. Dickson’s entire career has been spent in public service. She served 27 years with the Pinal
County Sheriff’s Department where she ascended through the ranks to become Commander of
Patrol and Support Services.
In 2010, recognizing Kaye’s ability to lead change and her strong management, fiscal and
procedural experience, the Pinal County Commissioners asked Kaye to serve as Director for the
Animal Care and Control Agency. Over the past four years, Ms. Dickson has served in that
capacity bringing about positive change and progress for the agency.
During her tenure as Director, Ms. Dickson partnered with Animal Care and Control divisions
throughout the state of Arizona, humane societies, schools, businesses and community
members to effect positive change. She employed industry best practices and implemented
policy, protocol and directives that resulted in a change of culture within the division. Today, the
Pinal County Animal Care and Control division is sought after to perform trainings for other
divisions from around the state and has received national attention for its attempts to engage
the community and spread awareness of the domestic animal overpopulation problem.
“I welcome our new director and look forward to team efforts in achieving goals as set out in the
Animal Shelter Operational Review completed in 2009,” Commissioner Brooks said.
“I welcome the community’s full engagement in assuring our shelter is meeting the goals set forth in that
strategic plan”.
“Director Dickson is up to the challenge of running an agency tasked with making decisions
which impact the lives and well-being of animals at the Shelter and responding to calls for help
from the community,” said Commissioner John O’Grady. “She will provide excellent leadership
and management as well as increased communication and collaboration with our partners and
the community. I also know that she will be a strong advocate of the Commissioners’ policies,
for our staff and the dogs in our care.”
“I appreciate the confidence the Franklin County Commissioners have placed in me and I am
eager to return to Ohio and get to work in Franklin County,” said Director Dickson. “I understand
the challenges an open-admission shelter faces. The balance between animal activist concerns
and the humane care and treatment of animals is delicate. As agency director I will strive to
achieve this balance while never losing sight of keeping the Franklin County community safe.”
Director Dickson is a member of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators and National
Animal Control Association. She is also a certified Emergency Animal Medical Technician, a
certified Public Administrator and holds a National Animal Control Certification Level 1-4.
Director Dickson’s family including her dog "Archie" and cat "Salem" will be joining her in Ohio in
the near future. She will begin work on Monday, March 2nd and will be paid $97,000 annually.
Franklin County’s Dog Shelter & Adoption Center is an open admission shelter, taking in more
than 10,400 dogs last year and successfully adopted or sent to rescue 69-percent of the dogs
impounded in 2014.
For more information and statistics about Franklin County’s Dog Shelter and Adoption Center,
log on to <a href="http:/www.FranklinCountyDogs.com" target="_Blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.FranklinCountyDogs.com</a>