Marion County Council members adjourned their monthly meeting on Oct. 14 to have a public hearing on the lease agreement of the Marion County Animal Shelter to Paws to the Rescue Inc. During the time for public discussion, Harold Taylor of Nichols spoke, saying while he believes the lease is a good idea, that he is concerned about the county allowing the fostering of animals from its shelter.
Taylor told council members of a situation near his home in which someone shelters as many as 16-17 dogs at a time. Taylor believes that’s too many and unless a person has a business license to run a kennel that number should be restricted. Taylor said he would like to see in the lease agreement provisions that the Marion County Animal Shelter not allow the fostering of animals, and if it does, to limit the number a person can take in. Taylor also said he hoped the lease agreement, which was not available for public review before the public hearing, had restrictions on the adopting dogs and cats from the shelter unless they were first spayed or neutered.
The third item of concern for Taylor was the liability to the county of dogs kept in foster care, should the dog get out and hurt someone. “I would like to have seen it (the lease agreement) … these things should be made available …”
Taylor said according to his understanding after talking with Jennifer Nall, the director of Paws to the Rescue, the group does allow animals to be fostered as a step that leads to adoption. Taylor said he believes Nall will do a good job with the shelter and is impressed with her. County Administrator Tim Harper and County Attorney Charles McLain explained the lease agreement was not finalized until the day before the meeting and that county and shelter officials were still working on it.
McLain explained that in the short time that has passed the county has worked to get the agreement in order, and that the county wasn’t purposefully holding out on anybody. During the reconvened regular meeting, council unanimously voted to amend the lease agreement to prevent fostering or to limit the fostering of animals from the shelter to a specific number with one foster care giver. County officials will look to see what other counties do in regards to the fostering of animals by county-run shelters and if it is admissible.
Also at the meeting was to have been third reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of a special source revenue bond for Carolina AAC. McLain reported that he’s had no word on that item and it was not ready for a vote.
Council passed the second reading of ordinance 08-09, to approve the lease of the Animal Shelter to the new management group, with the amendment.
Council member Milton Troy also said council should look into the development of an ordinance that would limit the number of dogs kept on one site, excluding hunters and registered kennel owners.
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