RSS Feed
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Public input sought concerning county animal shelter The task force charged with developing a county animal shelter is asking for public feedback. The committee, chaired by County Commission Chairperson Patricia DuBose, met Feb. 7 at the Clarke County Courthouse. This was the fourth meeting for the committee. The goal of the committee is to prepare a shelter and pay a salary for at least one county animal control officer. State law dictates that each county must have a shelter. "We feel that the people of the county deserve to have the services that the law requires," DuBose said. "The law is clear." Alabama State Law Section 3- 7A-7 states that "it shall be the duty of each and every county in the state to provide a suitable county pound and impounding officer for the impoundment of dogs and cats found running at large." "This needs to be addressed, expediently," she said. She admits the state law is an unfunded mandate. "Most counties have not tried to respond to it until they were forced to by a lawsuit," she said. "We feel like we are trying to be responsive." Among those participating in the Feb. 7 meeting were veterinarian Dr. Ed Sellers, County Commissioner Elma Averett, Fulton Mayor Mike Norris and Lee Hutto, animal control officer for Jackson. Support has also come from Grove Mill Mayor Lamar Hudson and the two other veterinarians in the county, Scott Lawrence and Martin Coffman, DuBose said. "We want it to be an operation that everybody in the county can be proud of," Sellers said. "We don't want a catch pen," Norris said. "We don't want something that we are going to try to hide out in the woods someplace where we don't really want people to see it," Sellers said. "If we can do it right…it will be supported." "Voice for the Animals," a first annual 5K Run, will be held beginning at 8 a.m. on April 5 in Fulton with proceeds going to the shelter construction. From the reaction to the event, Norris said he has found people excited about helping animals. There will also be a Pet Trot. Hutto plans to bring his mobile animal adoption program to Fulton. "We've gotten so much input," Norris said. Area veterinarians will be on hand in Fulton that day for vaccination of animals. "A lot of people have voiced their desire to help out (with a shelter) in any way that they can," Sellers said. "There will be plenty of volunteers if they can be used." There are no humane society organizations presently in Clarke County. There are a vast array of grants available for animal shelters, Hutto said. "Funding is to be addressed," DuBose said. "We know the county and the municipalities do not have money to throw around. We don't want to put a burden on anybody, but I feel it should be a budget item." "I think it is going to be a matter do people consider is necessary?.... What priority do people of the county put on this?" The number one issue is stray dogs, especially in the outlying areas. "An even more important factor is these stray animals do pose a public health problem, from the standpoint of maybe biting someone - even the possibility of spreading rabies," Sellers said. "Most of these animals have not been vaccinated….A lot of the strays become wild and cause even more damage." The committee is not advocating a leash law for the county. "That might be something down the road," Sellers said. Grove Hill, Jackson and Thomasville all have leash laws. Coffeeville has no animal control ordinance. Norris said it would be difficult to enforce animal control in Fulton without adequate personnel. Sellers believes the consciousness of the county will be raised through the shelter program. "If the public is behind this and if they provide the interest - which I think is out there - there's a lot of people out there who want this," he said.
"Everybody's got an animal somewhere," Norris said. "They've got something. It may be inside their house all the time. They've got something they love. They just hate to see animals mistreated. If they've got any heart at all, they want to get in on this."
|
for larger version       Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
