LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. — Some members of the Limestone County Community say they're not happy. Some say a new bid proposal for the next animal shelter contract isn't right. The proposal includes an animal retention clause that says no animal shall remain in the animal pound for longer than fourteen days.
A group of concerned citizens gathered during a Limestone County Commission meeting Tuesday morning expressing concerns over a new proposal set by the commission for bids to be the county shelter. County Attorney Drew Dill said they've received two bids. "So the county a few weeks ago issued a request for proposals, asking for proposals from anyone who is interested in operating the animal pound for the county under Alabama law. The county is charged with operating a suitable animal pound to to make sure that animals running at-large are are dealt with. Those being dogs, cats and ferrets."
Ultimately, one bid was withdrawn and the other bid was deemed to be non-conforming. "The commission, did not award an animal pound contract," said Dill.
Athens Limestone Shelter Executive Director Dr. Elisabeth O'Connor explained that October 1 is the end of their contract. "Those animals will have to be transported to whatever facilities they are deeming appropriate." O'Connor continued that the average length of stay in the animal shelter is 14 days, but 32% of animals stay longer than that. "So if you were to say, you know, animals can stay longer than 14 days, then you'd have to euthanize 32% of the animals in the shelter."
While some residents are against the county's proposal, some residents support it. "I don't think the county needs to be in a mode of paying for room and board animals for any indefinite period of time." Currently, the Limestone County Commission is in the planning phase to operate its own animal pound facility. The County Attorney for Limestone County said the current plan is to get a facility up and running very quickly, and then to deal with what a long term facility might look like. But, there is not a final plan in place for the long term.