ANDERSON — More than one month after the resignation of the director of the Anderson Animal Shelter, the city has named two people to temporarily run the facility, hoping to improve its image and efficiency as soon as possible.

Joe McClain, who was recently transferred to be the deputy chief humane officer, and Claudia Smith, who was a consultant for the city, have been recommended as director and chief deputy, respectively, of the now-named Animal Care and Control facility.

Dick Wiley, chairman of the Board of Public Safety, said the interim position, at least for McClain, was more a test period to see how he would handle the job.

“We put him on a 90-day basis,” he said. “It’s like at any job: If you prove yourself, then the job’s yours.”

McClain’s appointment to senior humane officer comes after months — and some say years — of controversy and strife at the animal shelter.

In January, the Board of Public Safety approved the appointment of Larry Russell to be the senior humane officer at the facility. On March 26, Russell euthanized 28 dogs, one of which was on hold for a rescue group.

Mayor Kris Ockomon announced at a public meeting on April 9 that he would be accepting applications for the position of director until April 16.

McClain was the last of nine people to submit his résumé to the city for consideration of the position, turning it in during discussions of his being moved to the shelter as deputy chief.

McClain and his wife have volunteered at the Madison County Humane Society and have had several pets of their own, including a lion. McClain has more than five years of business education from several colleges, but he went into the U.S. Navy before he received a degree. McClain also has supervised union workers, which was experience most of the other applicants did not have, Wiley said.

McClain said his business plan had been evolving as he learned more about how the shelter works.

“You can’t go in there and turn everything upside down and get results,” he said.

On Monday, he had the staff completely clean the facility, keeping it closed until the job was complete. That afternoon, he said, 31 people visited the facility, and the animal control officers responded to six calls.

McClain said he would strive to keep accurate records of visitors, animals adopted and number of responses made by the control officers.

“We want to get accurate paperwork,” he said.

For the future, McClain said he would like to see ordinances updated, including raising the adoption fees and creating stronger penalties for infractions. McClain also said he wanted the time the facility is open to change to accommodate the needs of the animals and the community.