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| 9/18/2008 9:17:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| County courthouse on East LaSalle Street in Barron |
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County's animal shelter plans on hold
The construction of Barron County's animal control shelter next to the Humane Society is on hold.
Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald made that statement following a Law Enforcement Committee meeting last Wednesday, Sept. 10. Groundbreaking was to have taken place early this month.
He said that development came about because the Humane Society is looking at making changes in its operations.
"We're still in the process of working together with the Sheriff's Department to better serve the needs of our community-that hasn't changed," said Humane Society board president Dari McDonald.
Fitzgerald, who was appointed as sheriff 3 weeks ago, said he met with McDonald Sept. 5 for an update and learned of the development. Plans are to meet again Friday, he said.
Fitzgerald said the county will continue to work with the Humane Society on an animal control program, although the facility will likely be on hold for a year. The county has yet to seek bids for the facility that was to house 15 dogs, Fitzgerald said.
"Animal control officer Mark Olson will continue to do the job he was hired to do," said Fitzgerald.
A growing number of complaints about stray dogs and a lack of animal control efforts by most of the county's townships, villages and cities prompted the county to formulate a plan over the past 2 years to deal with the problem.
In July, the County Board voted to proceed with plans to construct its shelter. The board earlier authorized spending $113,000 for the building.
The county's efforts to work with the Humane Society had been stalled by the Humane Society's "wait list" policy, but new leadership and management earlier this year adopted an open admission policy. The words "no kill" have been eliminated from the organization's bylaws.
Plans were for the Humane Society and the county shelter to be independent of each other, but proximity would allow for shared resources and the use of jail inmate labor.
Despite the new development, McDonald said the Humane Society will continue to have an "open door" policy. She said the organization is working with surrounding shelters in the state and in Minnesota to assist in housing animals.
The Humane Society has said it does not euthanize to gain space but as a last resort option and in cases of terminal illness, serious injury and for animals that are a threat to public safety.
Olson's job includes assisting municipalities and towns with the enforcement of animal control laws and ordinances and issuing citations to offenders; impounding stray dogs and cats; investigating complaints of inhumane treatment of domestic animals; and conducting criminal investigations, including obtaining search and arrest warrants, gathering and preserving evidence and apprehending suspects.
Jail inmates are still contributing to the operation of the Humane Society, Fitzgerald said.
In a donation request letter to county businesses dated Aug. 20, McDonald wrote that the shelter was seeking emergency support while developing a 3-year operating plan to ensure stability.
"Serving the needs of the county is extremely important to us," McDonald said. "Our new growth will enable us to reach out to other groups concerned for animal welfare so we can work even better together."
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