Ashley Boyd named new director of Brookhaven Animal Shelter

Town officials have announced Ashley Boyd, a two-year volunteer at the Brookhaven Animal Shelter, as the facility's new director.

Boyd, 24, took over Oct. 15, eight days after the shelter reopened. It had been closed for more than a month to combat a ringworm outbreak that led to the euthanization of about 30 cats and dogs in June and July.

Peter O'Leary, Brookhaven Town commissioner of public safety, said Boyd, who earned an associate degree from Suffolk County Community College in 2007, will make $75,000 a year.

"The shelter seems like a happy place, and I've been welcomed by everyone," Boyd told the board after her introduction at Tuesday's board meeting.

The shelter was closed to the public and volunteers on Aug. 28, when officials discovered three dogs showed signs of the fungal skin infection.

Since the closure meant no adoptions occurred, officials are dealing with overcrowding. At the beginning of October, the shelter housed 209 dogs and 69 cats, far above its capacity of 80 dogs and 30 cats, town officials said.

With adoption fees waived for the remainder of the year, the number of dogs has dropped to just over 150, while the number of cats has gone up to 82.

Boyd is the shelter's fourth director in just over a year. Robin Bahnsen quit after only 12 days last month, officials said.

Dori Scofield, who was paid $91,600 annually, resigned as director last year, citing "budget restraints." She was followed by Maureen Schneider.

The shelter has 17 full-time and 24 part-time employees. Scofield said last year that it cost about $1.6 million to run the shelter.