Residents and humane-society volunteers urge county to expand animal shelter capacity

Multiple residents and animal-rescue volunteers raised concern at the May 28 Southampton County Board of Supervisors meeting about chronic overcrowding at the county animal pound and asked the board to prioritize expansion and funding.

Leah Moss, a volunteer transporter, said the county's animal pound has seven runs and cited a 2013 planning-commission recommendation that a properly sized facility would include at least 15 runs, a separate room for quarantined cats and additional caging for small dogs. Moss recounted recent weeks when the shelter euthanized multiple dogs due to lack of space and noted state-veterinarian inspection findings that suggest a larger facility is needed. She asked the board to consider capital projects funds, the unassigned general-fund balance and grant opportunities to obtain land and expand the facility.

Ryan Gibbs, president of the Southampton County Humane Society and a longtime volunteer, said rescue partners place many county dogs with neighboring agencies but that some grants and land-donation tax benefits require county sponsorship or participation rather than a private rescue acting alone. He said one animal-control officer covers the county's territory and that volunteers and staff do their best to place animals but lack capacity; Gibbs asked the county to identify staff or administrative paths to apply for grants and consider building a larger facility.

Kelly Jacobson of Zuni supported the speakers, noting recent assessment increases in the county and urging elected officials to use available revenue to improve animal-control operations.

Board members thanked the speakers and asked staff to consider short-term measures (hiring part-time attendants, organized volunteer/foster programs) and longer-term capital options. No formal appropriation for the shelter was advanced at the May 28 meeting; the speakers requested that staff and the board explore use of unassigned fund balances, capital-project funds and grant applications as potential funding sources.