West Virginia animal shelter director fired, says she was not given a reason

WETZEL COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) — The Director of the Wetzel County Animal Shelter in West Virginia was fired Tuesday evening after county commissioners voted on the issue in a two to one vote.  

Pam Ferrell confirmed her termination to 12 News affiliate WTRF, saying she still has not been given a reason for why she was dismissed.  

She shared details of an investigation conducted by the county’s humane officer earlier this year involving dogs who did not have their updated rabies shots.  

“These were dogs who had been at the shelter for multiple years and were not being adopted out,” Ferrell said. “The dogs who were behind on their rabies vaccines were a few months to a year past due at most.” 

Ferrell alleges the humane officer brought this issue of past due vaccines to the commissioner’s attention on April 14. At that meeting, she says commissioners issued her a letter of reprimand with 25 different line items that needed improvements.  

“After 90 days, we had a re-evaluation meeting to discuss the improvements. I heard nothing after that. No correspondence of any kind,” Ferrell said.  

She said she had no idea there was a potential of being fired until a week ago when a local newspaper reporter called her to say, “your name is on the agenda. It says to consider termination.” 

“I was shocked. I hadn’t heard anything from them after our evaluation meeting, and even now, I’ve not been given a reason for why I was let go,” Ferrell said.  

The decision to fire Ferrell has created a divide in the community.  

Several citizens voiced their support for her at the commission meeting on Tuesday, asking the commissioners to rescind their votes.  

Ferrell said if that were to happen, she would stay. “We work hard to help these animals. I’ve made mistakes, I’m human. But I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.”  

Commissioners Carla McBee and Kelly Nelsen voted yes to terminate Ferrell, and Lisa Heasley voted against the motion.  

WTRF 7News reached out to McBee and Nelsen for a comment.  

Heasley provided a brief statement saying, “I was the only one who voted no on terminating Pam. I don’t want to comment on her termination because that item was put on the agenda without me present. I don’t know some of the reasons myself.”  

Prior to her being fired, Ferrell had worked at the Wetzel County Animal Shelter for 12 years and served as the director since 2019.  

Ferrell said she’s secured counsel to represent her in matters relating to her termination. 

Meanwhile, a special meeting will take place on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the county commission chambers to consider and approve an interim director of the shelter.