BATAVIA, OHIO (June 18, 2025) – Kiarah Swartz today shared an upbeat assessment of operations at the Clermont County Animal Shelter in her first formal public report since taking the reins as administrator of the facility nearly three months ago.
“Operations are running well thanks to our awesome staff, expert warden team and new policies that were put into place prior to my arrival,” Swartz told the Board of County Commissioners during its regular session Wednesday. “We’ve also been managing our capacity effectively, even with challenges like a recent hoarding case that doubled the number of dogs in our care overnight. I’m also very happy to announce that we have once again been recognized by Best Friends Animal Society as a no-kill shelter.”
The award from Best Friends is for 2024. The nonprofit advocacy group bestows its no-kill distinction to shelters nationwide with euthanasia rates below 10 percent. The Clermont County shelter takes in approximately 800 dogs a year and maintains an annual euthanasia rate of less than 2 percent.
The shelter currently has 39 dogs on site at its facility on Filager Road in Batavia and another 33 in foster care or in the process of being adopted, Swartz said.
Swartz began her tenure in Clermont County on March 31. She most recently served as operations manager for the Brown County Humane Society and previously was a deputy dog warden and certified humane agent there.
Kennel Supervisor Darlene Williams also spoke, sharing details of how the staff handled the recent hoarding case – adopting out or placing in rescue all 38 dogs within a month. Those adopting the dogs have come from as far away as Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Williams said.
“We couldn’t have done it without our team,” she said, while holding one of the tiny Chinese Crested dogs that was rescued and is waiting to be picked up by its new adoptive family from New Jersey.
In the last six months, Clermont County’s interim administrator restructured staff positions, including the addition of Swartz as the first permanent administrator, promoted Williams to kennel supervisor, implemented a new volunteer policy and formalized procedures for sending dogs to rescues.
Swartz said the new policies, procedures and staff structure have been key to the shelter’s turnaround.
As an example of the shelter’s success, Swartz said that the number of new and returning volunteers continues to increase with 142 signed up for training since the shelter launched online registration in early April.
The shelter has also been attending adoption events to help place dogs, starting with My Furry Valentine in late winter, several this spring and several more upcoming this summer. The events are hosted by a variety of organizations that include veterinary clinics, local businesses and nonprofits, Swartz told the commissioners.
Williams also announced the shelter’s contract with a professional dog behaviorist who has begun providing temperament testing and obedience training to help dogs that need specialized, one-on-one attention before they can be adopted.
In closing, Swartz added that she looks forward to sharing future updates with the public and commissioners: “We really have great momentum at the shelter, and I am lucky to be here with such a great team.”
About the Clermont County Animal Shelter
The Clermont County Animal Shelter in Batavia, Ohio, is a public no-kill kennel that provides a safe and caring place for stray, lost and neglected dogs. The county, which has managed daily operations since 2021, is planning to expand the number of outdoor kennels this year. Bids for the project are being accepted from contractors until June 26.
