Henry County animal services: fence finished, donated funds remain for shelter improvements

County animal services and volunteers reported that a donated fence project at the county shelter is complete and that donations exceed the final cost, leaving funds for additional shelter improvements.

Robert (committee representative) told the court the fence work is finished and that donors raised about $16,000 for the project. The fence was expected to cost about $45,000 but came in for substantially less, leaving a remaining balance in the donation line item that the county and Trimble County will coordinate on from the fiscal side.

Animal services staff said they want to use leftover funds for improvements at the shelter, including expanding a dog-run area and other atmosphere improvements; specifics will be determined by the committee. “The donated money was big,” a committee member said, and the group will meet before the next fiscal court meeting to inventory funds and propose projects for the remaining donations.

Shelter staff also noted seasonal adoption challenges and that older animals are harder to place this time of year; out-of-state transfer options (for example to adopters or partners in other states) were mentioned as one pathway for some animals.

The court took no fiscal action at the meeting beyond accepting the committee report; the committee will return with recommendations for use of the remaining donated funds.