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Calaveras, animal advocate talks give way to new shelter

By Dana M. Nichols

Record Staff Writer

October 14, 2009

SAN ANDREAS - Calaveras County officials and advocates for the humane treatment of animals have reached verbal agreement to cooperate on the construction of a new, multimillion dollar animal shelter and pet adoption center.

The breakthrough came Tuesday when a majority of the members of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors voiced support for a deal under which the Calaveras County Humane Society would raise the millions of dollars needed to build a modern shelter while the county government would provide the land.

"I will work diligently to accomplish that," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Russ Thomas.

Conditions at the present county animal shelter have been a sore point for years. A periodically leaking roof, cracked concrete floors that are hard to disinfect, an ugly building that discourages visitors and a chronic shortage of kennels have all drawn fire for decades in grand jury reports.

The poor facilities for adopting pets and lack of kennel space mean that many animals are euthanized. From Jan 1 through Oct9th the shelter in San Adreas had euthanized 134 dogs and 432 cats, according to a Calaveras County Animal Services report.

Calaveras County Humane Society President Blair Wiley said it was clear last year to him and other members that construction of the new county jail - due to open in 2011 - would force the relocation of the existing animal shelter. And the Humane Society concluded it would be best to accomplish construction of a new shelter with a partnership in which the Humane Society built the structure and leased back portions the county would need to carry out its legally mandated function to control stray pets and dangerous animals.

But he said he and others have been frustrated by the slow progress in recent months of talks aimed at striking a deal to do that.

"At each step of the way, we've had to be the squeaky wheel pushing you along," Wiley said. He said the Humane Society needs a firm commitment soon so it can begin raising funds for the project.

County officials insist they plan to take the Humane Society up on its offer, but warn that it may still take six months or more to get a signed deal on paper.

"I do think we can make this happen sooner rather than later," said county Administrative Officer Bob Lawton.

One question to be resolved is whether the county would deed the property over to the Humane Society or simply give the society control through a long-term lease of 40 years or more. Both sides agree a long-term land commitment is needed to facilitate fundraising.

Supervisor Steve Wilensky asked if a more immediate resolution could be adopted to allow the Humane Society to begin fundraising this year. Lawton said that in November, he would bring to the board a "conceptual commitment" to the partnership with the Humane Society.

Jean Macomber, a member of the county's Domestic Animal Advisory Committee and a member of the Humane Society committee that has been working on the replacement shelter project, said the shelter fundraising committee will hold its first meeting on Oct. 28.

"That is why this meeting today was so important. We wanted to hear, 'Yes, go ahead,' " Macomber said.

Meanwhile, the exact size of a new shelter has not been determined, although it would likely have to be three or four times the size of the current facility, with 50 or more dog kennels and perhaps a hundred cat cages, Macomber said.

She said an early estimate is the project would likely cost $3 million or more.

What committee members do know is they want the shelter to be a beautiful, welcoming place where families will feel comfortable coming to adopt pets.

Humane Society officials said they are already negotiating with architect George Miers, who designed the Oakland SPCA "PeopleSoft" Adoption/Education Facility that opened in 1994. That building and many other animal shelters built since then feature bright, welcoming lobbies with spaces specially designed for education and for prospective pet owners to meet new animals.

Macomber said one of the first goals of her committee is to hire Miers to do an assessment of exactly the size and characteristics that Calaveras needs in an animal shelter.

"We also need to have something that will grow as the county grows," Macomber said.

Contact reporter Dana M. Nichols at (209) 607-1361 or dnichols@recordnet.com.