Dog control officer seeks county property or lease site for regional holding facility; supervisors agree to explore options

April Moore, the dog control officer for Ovid, Covert and Romulus, asked the public-works committee for help finding a location to place a small holding facility to temporarily house stray, surrendered or abused dogs when local shelters are full.

Moore said the contracted shelter the towns use (Beverly [Bridal] Shelter in the transcript) is frequently full and that state regulations limit her to holding stray animals only 24 hours before transferring them to a shelter. She has incorporated a nonprofit (Charlie’s Dog Haven, per the transcript) and said the facility would be a 38-by-40 building with an isolation room, ventilation and kennels sized to meet the new shelter requirements; she said the setup would be a holding facility run as a 501(c)(3) to allow donations and grant opportunities and that the three towns she represents have expressed support.

Moore requested county assistance in identifying existing county-owned buildings, lots, or lease opportunities (half an acre to one acre depending on participating towns) where a holding facility could be placed. Committee members did not commit county property at the meeting but agreed to ask the county attorney and staff to research county-owned parcels and legal steps required to donate, lease or otherwise make property available; they also suggested Moore convene the towns that would participate and pursue grant opportunities with partners such as the New York State Animal Protection Federation.

Supervisors asked Moore to provide the facility diagram and said they would circulate potential county property lists and examine legal options. The committee agreed to schedule another meeting with Moore and town representatives to explore forming a multi-town agreement.