News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County’s Steering Committee B proposed allocating $7,500 to the county’s animal shelter for repairs meant to keep the dogs safe this winter.
Volunteers from the shelter spoke to commissioners during Monday night’s committee meetings, expressing concern about the condition of the building and the dangers it poses to dogs and staff alike. The volunteers also expressed concerns about how the shelter is being managed. Commissioner Chris Brewington said he agrees with the volunteers saying the problem goes beyond a few repairs to the building.
“We look at it as a money, money, money issue. It ain’t a money issue, and like you said, it ain’t gonna go away. It really ain’t gonna go away. I know we have a tight budget right there, but there’s some things, boys I’m telling you, that we do just, to me it’s ridiculous. We ought to make better decisions than what we have been in the past.”
The $7,500 will go for roofing upgrades to protect animals during the colder winter months. The volunteers also shared their problems regarding the shelter’s funding, the increasing numbers of stray dogs, and, what they called, irresponsible dog owners and breeders in the area.
Commissioner Dakota White said he wanted to focus on the immediate problems facing the dogs this winter.
“I’m very hesitant to do a lot of work there because it’s contingent upon the landfill,” White said. “That’s my honest thought. I would hate to put, you know, 20, 30, 40 grand into the building, making it much better for the dogs, which they need, absolutely, and then in February have to start over.”
Volunteer Steve Kunze said the county should generate more funding for the shelter from new fines put in place to discourage people from illegally dumping their dogs or breeding and selling puppies.
“Right now everybody’s looking at it, ‘It’s just a big cost problem. We don’t to deal with it. Just euthanize the dogs.’ That’s not the answer, trust me,” Kunze said. “That is not the answer. All these volunteers are going to walk out of here if you start some mass euthanization or adopt a policy of euthanizing dogs. They’re all gonna walk. The donations are going to stop.”
In other business, the committee approved a proposal to hire a part-time assistant for the county’s EMA Director.
