Police Chief Helps At Sierra Vista Shelter, Hosts Community Talk

Sierra Vista Police Department Chief of Police Chris Hiser understands the staffing shortage the Nancy J. Brua Animal Care Center has faced in recent months. He isn’t just giving the problem lip service, either. Today, Hiser showed up to clean kennels, work alongside shelter staff, and connect with Sierra Vista residents to better understand the issues they’re facing.

Inset: SVPD Chief Chris Hiser, City of Sierra Vista Website \\ Background & Dog: Val Davidson/TSM

After the work was done this morning, Hiser hosted a “Meet the Chief” conversation at the shelter, giving residents a chance to ask questions and share community concerns.

The hands-on morning offered him a close look at how kennel cleaning has become an added responsibility alongside the employees’ regular animal-care and public-service duties.

SVPD Chief Chris Hiser cleans the animal shelter. | Courtesy Arleen Garcia, Nancy J Brua Animal Care Center

Lost Help Changes The Workday

Staffing shortages have taken center stage at the animal shelter, with several factors converging at once. Two long-term employees left when their lives took them away from Cochise County. The second major change is that inmates from the Arizona Department of Corrections, who have long supplemented staff duties, are no longer available to help at the shelter.

Their absence has shifted more cleaning and upkeep onto an already short-staffed crew, making their busy days even heavier.

Community Help Is Welcome

The center is increasingly turning to local volunteers, and they’re now screening residents who need community service hours and would like to perform some of those required duties at the shelter.

“We weren’t able to [allow people to work their community service hours at the shelter] in the past because of having Department of Correction inmates, but now we are able to do that,” Arleen Garcia told Val on the K101 morning show.

How to Volunteer at the Shelter

The center is looking for volunteers from all walks of life. If you have some extra time and would like to help clean animal enclosures or myriad other duties, they'd love to talk to you.

According to the City of Sierra Vista, volunteers may help with animal care, socialization, adoption counseling, transportation, and administrative work. Anyone who’d like to help is encouraged to contact the shelter to begin the volunteer application process.

Sierra Vista’s Nancy J Brua Animal Care Center is a division of the Sierra Vista Police Department, with Chief Hiser at the helm. Stepping in to help at the shelter was a great show of support and leadership.

Because the shelter is currently short-staffed, they want the public to know that they’re operating under slightly shorter, temporary hours. They’re open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Residents can visit 6799 E. Highway 90 in Sierra Vista or call (520) 458-4151 with questions.

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