No traction gained after animal shelter director’s latest visit to a City of LaFollette meeting

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The topic of animal control was back on the agenda at yesterday afternoon’s LaFollette City Council workshop.

Prior to the start of the workshop, City Administrator Stan Foust told the audience that presentations had a three minute time limit and Fire Chief Jimmy Pack would be keeping the time.

Patricia Siwinski, Director of the Campbell County Animal Shelter, was present to discuss the animal control situation. Siwinski started out by saying she would probably exceed her three minutes but would be present in the lobby to discuss the issue further with anyone who wanted to speak with her. She reported that Friends of Campbell County Animals (FCCA) has a service contract with the county to operate the animal shelter. She continued that in 2024 an intake protocol was established that had a provision to charge municipalities. She then gave a rundown of a few facts about the shelter. Friends of Campbell County Animals (FCCA) has been running the shelter for the past ten years. The cost of operating the shelter for the past 10 years was $3.8 million with the county contributing $2.1 million, leaving FCCA with a balance of $1.7 million to raise. Siwinski then alleged at the June workshop Foust reported to the council that the shelter had not taken animals from the city in 18 months. The three minute timer sounded and Foust told Siwinski her time was up.

From a story WLAF News published last month, since June 2024, the city has been embattled with Friends of Campbell County Animals (FCCA) who runs the county’s animal shelter. The city has alleged on various occasions that they have a contract with the shelter. According to shelter director Patricia Siwinski, the shelter does not have a contract with the City of LaFollette. Siwinski reports that any contract the city allegedly had does not apply to Friends of Campbell County Animals who is currently leasing the shelter.

Based on the lease agreement FCCA has with Campbell County from 2022, “FCCA may establish, charge, collect, and retain fees from any parties (public and private including municipalities, located within Campbell County). The lease agreement continues “the fees previously established by Section XX of the Animal Control Resolution adopted by the Campbell County Commission in January 2011 will no longer be applicable beginning July 1, 2022, and shall not be applicable during the term of this lease agreement and any renewals and/or extensions thereof”. In 2023, the FCCA sent out communications about their managed intake protocol along with a fee schedule to the municipalities, according to Siwinski. Base on online sources, managed intake protocols are a proactive strategy to regulate the flow of animals entering the facility, prioritizing those with the most urgent needs. This protocol does involve scheduling appointments.

The city has alleged that the animal control officer has been “banned” from the shelter since June 2024, Siwinski disputes this allegation. She alleged that the animal control officer failed to call ahead to schedule appointments to bring animals into the shelter as he has been requested to do on several occasions.

As of mid-June, 2025, the City of LaFollette owes FCCA $76,525 (nearly 350 animals) and the Town of Jacksboro owes FCCA $4,580, according to Siwinski. The Town of Caryville has animal control services through the shelter so it is not billed.

For each animal the FCCA receives from a municipality, it is billed $220 to cover the cost of vet services for the animals. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-07/29/2025-6AM)

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