Veterinarian urges joint Warren–Washington County animal shelter to support prosecutions and humane care

Dr. Kyra Haring, DVM, presented a proposal to the Washington County Public Safety Committee on Jan. 27 urging creation of a joint Warren–Washington County animal shelter to provide a permanent facility for abused and stray animals and to support law-enforcement prosecutions.

Haring said current dog-control facilities are short-term holding spots and ‘‘an animal shelter is there for law enforcement, for District Attorney cases.’’ She distributed a memorandum titled Proposal for a Joint Warren–Washington County Animal Shelter and other supporting materials and described recent cases of animal abuse that, she said, ‘‘stagnate and cannot get justice’’ under the present arrangements.

Haring argued the county has a moral obligation to provide a shelter and called the proposal feasible and affordable. ‘‘Literally, the cost for a taxpayer, a cup of coffee from Stewart’s and a donut a month,’’ she said, adding that veterinarians in the community have offered pro bono help but that long-term shelter operations require county commitment.

Supervisor Henke was cited in the presentation as having said that veterinarians could help; Haring pushed back, saying pro bono service is not the county’s obligation and that most veterinarians do not enter the profession expecting to provide countywide shelter services for free.

The presentation closed with Haring saying the effort will continue ‘‘with or without official support’’ because she believes public safety, animal welfare and community responsibility ‘‘demands this solution.’’ The committee did not take a formal vote on a shelter proposal during the meeting; Haring’s materials were received as information.