White County Animal Shelter Located At Landfill, County Wants To Sell Land

A possible relocation of the White County Animal Shelter makes much-needed renovations to the facility impractical.

Manager Sarah Lawson said the shelter is on the same property as a landfill the county is looking to sell. She said the shelter has 17 pens without heat, walls, or proper lighting.

“We’re doing the best we can with what we have,” Lawson said. “The issue that we’re running up against is trying to temporarily enclose it rather than permanently enclose it for the time being until the landfill sells.”

The county wants to sell the landfill and is currently soliciting interested parties. Lawson said, then, the county can look at a better place for animals.

Lawson said the number of pens in the shelter, as well as the building itself, have not changed in ten years. Lawson said the best way for people to help the shelter is to spay and neuter their pets to reduce the shelter’s intake. But Lawson said donation and vocal support for the facility do help.

“I strongly encourage people to continue their donations,” Lawson said. “But as far as serious help goes, I think that it’s just important that everyone speaks their opinion and shows their support at the commissioners’ meetings.”

Lawson said workers and volunteers put up tarps to provide the dogs with as much shelter as possible.

Lawson said someone left a sum of money for the shelter when they passed away, but the county is holding onto the money until after the shelter’s relocation.

“That is the most important thing, is to enclose the shelter and give us the electricity that we need and, you know, walls and things like that,” Lawson said.