Bartholomew County Animal Control Officer Mark Case has announced he is retiring, effective July 14.
The opening for the position was first posted internally on Thursday, June 8. If an in-house successor cannot not be found, the job opening will be advertised externally, county Commissioner Tony London said.
Case, 62, was hired to replace Trudi Smith as the county’s Animal Control director on April 4, 2011. Prior to that, the Hope native worked in the Bartholomew County Surveyor’s office.
He is married to veterinarian Dr. Brooke Case. The couple purchased Athens Animal Clinic in 2001.
Bartholomew County Extension Educator Elisabeth Eaton describes Case as a collaborator who values everyone’s perspective.
That was put to the test in the fall of 2021 when a Mastiff mix dog named Thor died at less than half of his normal weight. After Thor was treated at a Sellersburg medical facility, Case was heavily criticized on social media for allowing the canine to be returned to his owner in the Bethel Village subdivision.
But after several months, the controversy subsided after a post-mortem examination showed Thor had died of a form of cancer called renal cell carcinoma.
Case was in charge of Bartholomew County Animal Control when a substantial increase in funding was provided to the Bartholomew County Humane Society. Case also worked with county officials on approved restrictions for large-scale dog breeding kennels, as well as trap and release programs for feral cats.
By statute, the county’s animal control department is charged with the care, management and enforcement of the laws and ordinances regarding animal-related issues in the county.
In contrast, the Humane Society is contracted by the county to provide humane support, care, shelter and medical attention to abandoned and homeless animals.
Case also faced some public scrutiny as president of the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Board of Directors from early 2017 through early 2021. Many residents were angry with the board for canceling the 2020 fair due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Case explained the fair board members determined it would be impossible to adhere to mandatory health guidelines and restrictions enacted during the first year of the pandemic.
