Freda Waters made the request on behalf of the Humane Society during a recent commission meeting. The Humane Society has about $40,000 for construction of the facility, but that’s a long way from the $250,000 needed for the shelter.
“We are now six years into this project,” said Waters. “The city of Centre recently graciously appropriated us $25,000 for the year 2007 to help with the building fund. And what our agency today would like to do is request $50,000 from the county for the year 2007. We realize this is a dramatic increase from what the county has been giving and we certainly appreciate all the support the county has given us thus far, but in order for us to get this humane society built, we are going to have to have more funding.
“This will be a county-wide facility for Cherokee County and for the residents of Cherokee County and for every municipality within the county. Our property is paid for, so we are good to go there. The property has been cleared, site is prepped and ready for construction of the actual facility itself.”
Waters said a private donor has offered to give $5,000 if the county agrees to continue contributing toward the building fund.
“The board of directors and I met last Friday afternoon,” said Waters. “And if we can get the level of commitment of this funding that we need for the next two years, we have agreed to borrow the rest of the money against the property to begin construction.”
For the past few years, Waters said, Humane Society volunteers and board members have worked tirelessly at various fundraising projects, many of which have proved successful, but not enough to raise the funds needed for the shelter. The capital campaign, started in late 2005 and earlier 2006, has raised approximately $3,200, she said.
Earlier this summer, the Fort Payne office notified Cherokee County that it could no longer accept animals from this area, Waters explained.
“We had to suspend that as of July 1,” said Waters. “Our agency has become totally overwhelmed. For the months of June and July, we took in about 1,022 animals. I had myself, one other person there and a part-time person. Of course we do the cruelty and neglect for both DeKalb and Cherokee. We had just gotten strictly overwhelmed and my board of directors had asked that I suspend that activity.”
According to Waters it is a matter of space, manpower and budget. “We have not had an increase in funding for 16 years,” said Waters.
The shelter facility, Waters said, would provide a place for any resident in the county to bring stray animals. It will be up to each municipality to adopt an animal control ordinance and to appoint an animal control officer.
Commission Chairman/Probate Judge Kirk Day suggested meeting with the mayors of each municipality and discuss the possibility of pooling resources.
“Certainly the timing is right for this,” said Day. “It is certainly a problem county-wide.
“Right now the county is taking some steps with some of these health and safety powers that will be on the ballot in November. One of those will allow the county to address animal control outside of municipalities which I think will fill in the gap.”
“I believe it is something we can make happen,” said Day. “I think certainly this body would be supportive.”
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