Town of Babylon hires veterinarian for shelter

Babylon has hired its first veterinarian for the town's animal shelter, reducing the need to send animals out to hospitals to receive services.

For the past few years, the town had been overspending the $30,000 budgeted annually for veterinary services for the shelter, said councilwoman Ellen McVeety, who sponsored the resolution passed Tuesday night that approves the hire. Until now, the animals have been transported by an animal control officer in a town vehicle and, in some cases, bordered at an animal hospital.

The town hopes to cut back on these costs by hiring Deborah Lupo-Lyons, a licensed veterinarian who runs a mobile clinic, to regularly visit the shelter in West Babylon. Lupo-Lyons will work part time for the town, putting in no more than eight hours a week either at the shelter or via phone consultation, McVeety said, and will receive $60 an hour. Her salary is capped at $15,000, but that could change as service needs arise, McVeety said. McVeety said having a staff veterinarian will also help give the animals better care.

"Currently, if it's not obvious that the animal has a problem, they don't get to see a veterinarian until they get spayed or neutered or get their rabies shot," McVeety said. "This way the veterinarian can look at every animal that comes in and do an assessment for the overall health of all of the animals."

Chris Elton, director of the shelter, said the downturn in the economy has meant more animals being left at the shelter and fewer adoptions. He said the shelter averages about 100 animals at a time. Elton said bringing in a veterinarian will lead to better protocols for feeding and diet, as well as for fighting against infectious diseases such as canine influenza, which he said has severely impacted other shelters.