Trending
ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The future of the Belmont County Animal Shelter was discussed again Wednesday, with volunteers and former employees asking why the shelter's volunteer program is suspended.
Belmont County commissioners also had more comments about plans to construct a new shelter building.
Commissioner J.P. Dutton said new facilities have been a long time coming, with the commissioners examining options ranging from expansion to a new structure.
"We are excited about the request for qualifications for potential animal shelter facilities. We've done a lot of evaluations on the building," he said, adding that renovation would not be sufficient. "We don't think that it is a good option in terms of that facility moving forward. We think the best thing for the county long term is to really evaluate a new building. ... That's the idea with the request for qualifications: to bring an expert that's interested to look at this with us and try to at least put a conceptual design together and get a sense of what costs are. Costs are changing drastically."
Dutton added that the commissioners have been dealing with a "tremendous backlog" of new buildings that need to be constructed. The commissioners have been exploring options for a new health department building as well.
"It takes a lot of time and attention, but at the end of the day you can't have buildings that are just deteriorating to the point we've let some of our buildings deteriorate, to the point that they need to be torn down," Dutton said.
Candace Fleagane, who operates the Belmont County Cat Stray Shun program that cares for area felines, has long advocated for new shelter facilities.
"I am out at the Belmont County Animal Shelter from three to five hours every day," she said. "I'm so happy that this announcement has finally been made. I've been waiting for it for years, and I want to do everything I can in my power to help raise money for this facility and I'm hoping that anybody that wants to volunteer will be happy to do the same."
Dutton said more updates will be forthcoming.
Regarding the volunteer program, Dutton said the commissioners continue to gather information and work with shelter management to plan how best to move forward.
"We hope to have an update by next week," he said.
Volunteer Aaron Apitzsch who had spoken during the April 19 meeting was unable to attend Wednesday but provided a statement that was read by volunteer Dave Wilson of St. Clairsville. Apitzsch wrote that the volunteers were still awaiting an answer regarding the suspension of the volunteer program and why he and his wife, Jodi, have been blocked from the shelter's Facebook page.
"I respect the institution and have faith that they will be able to dissect this situation from all points of view to be able to come to a resolution to this matter of bringing together a partnership between the animal shelter and the community volunteers so that we may maximize our efforts of this overwhelming task of caring properly for the animals," Wilson read.
During last week's meeting, Apitzsch spoke about the use of social media in promoting animal adoptions.
Other volunteers also said the animals can benefit from more socialization time, since the shelter is short staffed. Former employees criticized Dog Warden Lisa Duvall's management.
After the meeting Wednesday, Fleagane commented on the situation.
"I think the volunteers need to quit confusing volunteering with interfering, that's basically it in a nutshell," she said. "Volunteering should consist of walking animals, doing fundraising, doing adoption days, doing laundry at the shelter, cleaning the kennels, feeding and watering if necessary, and mainly walking the dogs. The dogs really enjoy that extra attention that a volunteer can give them."
She said information about the animals must be accurate.
"I think a lot of people come out and put things on Facebook that aren't true, and that ends up hurting the animals and it hurts their chance for adoption," she said. "That, I feel, is interfering rather than volunteering."
She said the shelter makes use of numerous social media platforms including Facebook, Petfinder, Instagram and TikTok.
"It's not that we don't use social media, but before anything is put on social media about our shelter or our animals it has to be verified that it is a true fact," she said. "I've been with the shelter for ... 40 years, and I don't put anything on Facebook about the dogs or the cats that I don't verify with the director."
Fleagane also commended Duvall's leadership.
"I think Lisa does an excellent job. Her heart is in it. She loves these animals, and she would never do anything to jeopardize their health or their welfare or them not getting a good, safe, loving home."
Duvall was contacted after the meeting and said she had no comment, adding that the commissioners would make any forthcoming statements about the matter.