Trumbull County forms task force after volunteers warn of overcrowded shelters

Jason Cook, president of the Healthy Hearts and Paws project, told Trumbull County commissioners during public comment that local volunteer shelters are overwhelmed and county shelter capacity is inadequate. “We're averaging a 100 dogs a month being intaked. We're currently caring for a 120 dogs,” Cook said, adding that his volunteer operation sits on 20 acres and is building new facilities.

Commissioner Rick Hernandez acknowledged the scale of the problem and described prior county work on pound planning, including donated land and architectural fees. Hernandez said the county had looked at options that stalled because of a memoranda-of-understanding (MOU) issue with AWL and noted the county had spent money on architectural design: “the county did come up with 200 over 250,000, maybe closer to $260,000 for that,” he said.

Commissioner Hernandez proposed forming a public-private task force that would include shelter volunteers, banking and private-sector leaders to lead fundraising and push the project week to week. “I would like for us to form a task force today, start initiating it…work with the friends of the dog pound,” Hernandez said. He asked volunteers and business-minded community members to join and suggested weekly meetings to keep momentum toward getting a shovel in the ground.

Commissioner Malloy said he had met with potential private donors and banking institutions and supported immediate organization of a steering group. Malloy emphasized that, while the commissioners are pursuing grant funding, the county also needs private fundraising and a clear plan: “I do believe and I do trust that once the shovel is in the ground these people are gonna start coming forward,” he said.

Cook and commissioners discussed kennel capacity estimates and prior ARPA funding. Cook said the county’s planned pound (described in meeting documents as having 57 kennels) may be insufficient given intake levels. Cook also noted that Warren city eliminated its dog pound staff and now contracts some services to volunteers, increasing countywide burden; he said “70% are coming out of City Of Warren.”

Commissioners set an organizational meeting for the task force next Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. and said they would schedule an evening meeting for community members who work during the day. Hernandez and Malloy asked interested volunteers and community leaders to contact the commissioners’ office or Jason Cook to be considered for the steering committee. The commissioners requested that the task force include people with fundraising and leadership experience and indicated the county would coordinate with existing supporters and the architecture materials already produced.

The board urged a collaborative approach including community education (spay/neuter incentives were suggested during the discussion) and private fundraising, while continuing to pursue grant opportunities. The meeting record shows the commissioners repeatedly described the issue as long-running and pledged to accelerate action. The task force’s first meeting was scheduled and publicized by the commissioners’ office for next Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.