The Greene County supervisors got the first look at a very preliminary plan for a proposed county-wide animal shelter at their July 5 meeting.
Volunteer Don Orris was drafted by People for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and a steering committee to spearhead the effort. He has spent a year on the project already, researching and visiting animal shelters.
County supervisor Dawn Rudolph is serving on the steering committee and has briefed the board on its activities this past year.
Orris’s purpose in talking with the supervisors was to alert them that he thinks it is crucial to have an agreement in place between the city of Jefferson and the county about ownership, operation and maintenance of the shelter before the committee begins any fundraising for it.
Orris plans to make a similar presentation to the Jefferson city council at its July 12 meeting.
He called the current shelter “totally inadequate.” “We’re super fortunate to have eight to 12 ladies who have taken care of the place and taken care of our animal problem on their own, but honestly, they’re ready to throw in the towel. They’re tired. Most of them are older. One of these days there’s going to be more on your lap than you think because they’re going to say, ‘We’re done.’ That day is coming sooner than you think,” Orris said. “That’s important for you to know.”
Greene County Development Corporation has already provided a 4-1/2 acre parcel on the southwest corner of the west business park, directly north of the St Joseph Cemetery, as a location for the shelter.
Orris is proposing a 3,666-square foot masonry building on the east portion of the property, with space for a dog park on the west.
The proposed shelter would have 13 dog kennels with outside runs, space for 21 cats, isolation kennels in which incoming dogs and cats could be placed until their health status is determined, an exam room, a laundry room that would include a dog bathing sink, a quiet room, office space, and more. To see the preliminary plan, click here: Shelter plan – draft
“I designed a building that I think will meet the needs of all groups and provide essential public and animal safety services to the community – protect people from stray and dangerous animals, defend animals from inhumane treatment, provide a safe refuge for lost and unwanted pets, ensure the safety of our community by field enforcement and rabies control, provide education on animal issues, assist in neighborhood problem-solving, and provide many public services to help people and their animals. The facility will provide a way to produce a high percentage of reclaiming by owners or adoption to new homes,” Orris noted in a prepared handout.
Orris did not name a possible cost for the proposed shelter, but he gave a range of $220,000 to $300,000 a year for operations. That includes a fulltime animal control office and a minimum wage person to care for the animals and do custodial duties. He isn’t proposing tax dollars be used for construction, but that once complete, the ownership be turned over to the county or city of Jefferson for continuing operation and maintenance.
Orris said he was “shocked” at the cost of operating a shelter, but supervisors Guy Richardson and John Muir both said the $200,000-plus figure wasn’t a surprise. Richardson suggested people would be surprised to know that what it’s costing to run the current shelter. Muir said that after previous discussions of an animal control officer, a $100,000 share for the officer and shelter operation wasn’t surprising to him.
PAWS volunteers hope to be part of drafting the operating agreement for the shelter, but they want to step away from operating it. They hope to focus their energy on finding forever homes for adoption-eligible dogs and cats at the shelter.
Orris outlined seven steps in the process of building a new shelter. Taking design plans to the Jefferson city council and the board of supervisors, and giving them estimates of annual operating costs are steps one and two. Drafting a tentative agreement about dividing those costs and operation is the third step. Finalizing the agreement is the sixth step, with a capital campaign being the seventh step.
“The sooner the city and the county are both in agreement on this, the sooner we can move forward with raising money,” Orris said.
