Manchester Animal Shelter asks aldermen for more funding, invites tours to show operations

Leaders of the Manchester Animal Shelter asked the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to consider increased funding in the city budget and invited aldermen to tour the facility to see its operations.

Why it matters: Shelter staff and volunteers said the organization provides public‑safety and social‑service benefits—reuniting lost pets, offering low‑cost spay/neuter services to reduce overpopulation, and supplying thousands of pounds of pet food to households in need. They said municipal support helps the shelter limit euthanasia and reduce downstream costs for the city.

Michael Constance, who identified himself as executive director of the Manchester Animal Shelter, told the board the shelter “is a cornerstone of compassion, education, and public safety” and cited 2024 intake and sterilization figures. Constance said the shelter cared for about 798 animals in 2024 and performed more than 850 spay/neuter surgeries last year. Lucy Lane, representing the Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter board, said the shelter provided a fiscal‑year total of 910 animals and noted that about 728 of those intakes arrived via animal control or police referrals.

Lane said the per‑animal cost of care runs roughly $1,200 and that the city currently contributes about $89,000 toward operating costs. Shelter leaders said they will ask for additional funds in the city’s upcoming budget to support services, training and a larger facility footprint. Lane asked aldermen to visit the shelter, which she described as a city building on city property, to see conditions and operations firsthand.

Ending: The board took the public comments under advisement and voted to receive and file any written material provided by the speakers; shelter representatives said they will return during budget season with a funding request and invited aldermen to schedule tours.