Severe overcrowding and limited space at the White County Animal Shelter prompting calls for a larger facility and a more visible location to better care for abandoned and stray animals.
White County Animal Shelter Manager Brooke Childress said the current facility is operating beyond its capacity with approximately 35 to 40 dogs housed in only 32 available pens. Childress said the shelter needs a larger building with more space to properly manage the intake of animals and provide specialized areas for mothers and puppies.
“It’s not frustrating for us, it’s frustrating for the dogs,” Childress said. “Because I can only imagine what’s going through their brain. Why am I here? You know, why am I not at home where I’m supposed to be?”
Childress said the current county administration plans to leave the decision regarding a potential relocation to the next administration. Childress said she is supportive of a possible move to the county’s recreation facility on Highway 70.
“If we do go to the ball field, it’s closer to town, more people will know where we’re at, better involvement for the community,” Childress said. “I think that’ll be a perfect location.”
Childress said while the facility is overcrowded, staff members ensure animals receive vaccinations, deworming, and daily cleanings. Childress said the shelter has never been without heat, electricity, or water during her two-year tenure.
Childress said the community must take responsibility for the overpopulation crisis by utilizing spay and neuter services. Childress said the shelter works daily with local law enforcement, who issue warnings and citations to owners who dump or abandon animals.
“Imagine if everybody in the county, by law, has to get their animals spayed or neutered right now, and by this time next year we probably wouldn’t have an issue with puppy dumping and other dumpings,” Childress said. “They have a lot, because they’re the ones that can make a law. I mean, us citizens can’t make a law. I mean, it has to go through the government to make a law.”
Childress said the shelter utilizes social media to request food donations and works with local veterinarians and rescue groups to transport animals to other regions.
“We enjoy coming in here daily, taking care of them,” Childress said. “We interact with them. Kind of understand, like, we show them they’re not gonna get abandoned or dumped on the side of the road. We come in here daily. We work with them. We love them.
