Palm Coast and Flagler County officials review animal control operations and consider second shelter

Palm Coast and Flagler County officials on Wednesday reviewed the city’s animal control operations, discussed whether the city should extend services countywide and considered options for a second animal shelter.

City code enforcement manager Barbara Grossman presented the animal control program, describing daily duties, recent caseloads and startup and operating costs. She said crews handle everything from trap-neuter-return for community cats to large hoarding cases and emergency medical transports.

The presentation came as commissioners and council members pressed for a plan to expand shelter capacity. Officials and volunteers said the county’s sole provider, the Flagler Humane Society, is at capacity and that a second facility or an interlocal partnership will be needed to meet demand.

Grossman described the animal control workload and equipment and cited several recent incidents to illustrate strain on the system. "We just recently had a woman that was in her eighties and her dog collapsed on her and it was an 80 pound dog and she couldn't get it to the veterinarian. So in that case, we…