New Animal Shelter Board Could Be At Risk

Spirits were high in July 2007 when the Russell County Commission and City of Phenix City appointed animal shelter board members to lead the so-called first autonomous county-city endeavor. The original board included four veterinarians, with a combined experience of about 100 years, who planned to run the facility by providing better care to animals (including pre-adoption vaccinations, deworming, neutering etc.).

But during and after the construction of the new shelter (situated behind Russell County jail), the 50-50 effort became unclear, augmented when the Russell County Commission acted to give $50,000 additional dollars as start-up money in 2009. Commissioner Gentry Lee mispoke at a meeting in October and said to “bill the city,“ when he meant to say “inform the city” of the county’s gift to the shelter. One of the board veterinarians resigned over a contract dispute.

Three hundred animals have come through the new shelter, yet the “old,“ or existing Phenix City Animal Shelter has continued to operate. In the original agreement between the county and the city, it was spelled out that “it is economically feasible and would produce substantial savings to operate one animal shelter.“

At the most recent Russell County Commission meeting, commissioners recessed with county attorney Kenneth Funderburk into executive session. When they came out, Funderburk recommended proceeding with the city’s proposal for the animal shelter, citing “additional documents” to be drawn up. A 4-3 vote was cast to carry out Funderburk’s recommendation.

Now the shelter board fears it will be eliminated in the restructuring and that the animals will feel the impact.

“The fact would be they won’t be getting the care they’re currently getting,“ said Dr. Bill Smith, board chair.

Commissioner Mervin Dudley has one hope for the shelter authority, that it stay intact under board leadership.

“If we can’t support this operation in county, how are we supposed to support anytyhing else?“ Dudley said. “This is a hundred percent upgrade from the animal pound which is downtown on 12th street, and everyone knows it.“

The “pound” to which Dudley is referring is the existing “Phenix City Animal Shelter.“ News 3 visited the facility to examine its set-up and was asked to leave the public lobby. Despite repeated requests for visitation, our calls have gone unanswered.

A public hearing is scheduled to discuss the shelter authority’s future. It will be December 21 at 6:30 p.m. Location is to be determined.