by JEFF SCHMERKER
Special to The Mountaineer
Will Haywood County have a new home for dogs and cats?
A group hoping for a no-kill animal sanctuary has said it will work with county officials to find suitable space to hopefully open a refuge for dogs and cats on the verge of being euthanized.
The sanctuary, too, could be a good deal for the county price-wise — Haywood County spends upward of $17,000 a year to euthanize unwanted animals.
The proposal came on Monday from Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation, a local nonprofit set up last year in hopes of saving healthy adoptable animals from euthanization.
“What we need is an adoption center where we can pull viable adoptable pets out before they get sick or are euthanized,” said group director and founder Nancy Bullock.
Bullock had proposed leasing a warehouse adjacent to the county’s animal shelter in Hazelwood, but Benny Roberts, who oversees facility management for the county, told commissioners that warehouse was full and quite necessary. Interim County Manager Rick Honeycutt noted that space around the shelter is utilized for storage or needed for future expansion.
Commissioners signaled they were open to suggestions, however. Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick noted that the county puts an average of 41 dogs and cats to sleep each week.
“The numbers are staggering,” he said.
Commission Chairman Mark Swanger said once officials know how much space the group is looking for, he and others would be better situated to offer help.
“I think this is an appropriate thing for our staff to explore,” he said.
Doyle Teague, assistant shelter director, said the center handled about 3,300 animals last year — and with the shelter’s limited space, that means they can only hold on to found animals for four days — or seven, if the shelter can identify the animal’s guardian.
“We fill up every five days,” he said. “That’s why our rates are so high.”
