Commission approves sending proposed fenced play area for shelter dogs to county commissioners

At the June 3 meeting of the Carbon County Animal Shelter Advisory Commission, commissioners voted to approve forwarding a proposal to the county commissioners to consider creation of a fenced outdoor play area for shelter dogs.

The commission’s proposal — drafted using donated funds — would create an outdoor, staff‑supervised exercise area not open to the general public. Commission members discussed possible locations, including next to the memorial garden or a small corner parcel near the shelter, and said the fenced area would be used by shelter dogs for enrichment and to show off off‑leash behavior during adoption meet‑and‑greet evaluations.

Members discussed liability concerns and reiterated that the area would be restricted to shelter dogs and staff or volunteers; commissioners noted a separate public dog park is being developed by another party (referred to in the meeting as "Pascagone") and that this fenced area would be strictly for shelter use. The commission moved, seconded and approved sending the proposal to the county commissioners for consideration; the approval was taken by voice vote and individual roll call votes were not recorded in the meeting minutes.

The commission instructed staff to finalize the letter and sign the forwarded proposal for the county commissioners’ review; no final construction contract or funding appropriation was approved at the meeting — those actions would require county approval.