In the words of Forsyth County commissioner Jim Boff, it's been a “hot potato” issue for nearly two years: Should Forsyth County taxpayers pay for the building and operation of an animal shelter?
The matter seemed solved last month when the outgoing county commission voted in its last meeting to build a $2.1 million shelter to replace the one that the county pays a private firm $480,000 a year to operate.
Then the commission -- with new members District 1 Commissioner Pete Amos and District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent replacing Charles Laughinghouse and Jim Harrell -- rescinded the shelter plan in its first meeting in January.
On Thursday the commission plans to appoint at least eight members to a Forsyth County Animal Control and Shelter Advisory Committee, proposed by Commissioner Patrick Bell. That number may grow if Boff gets his wish to add at least one citizen from each of the five commission districts to the committee.
Dr. Lanier Orr, the veterinarian who currently runs the facility used by the county, said Tuesday he likely will be on the committee, as will another prominent veterinarian in the county, Dr. John McGruder. Sgt. Brian Deblois of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Special Services Animal Control Unit is also likely to be on the committee.
Orr and Bell both said Tuesday whatever the committee recommends, it likely won’t be a no-kill shelter, which many animal activists in the county favor. Orr has been criticized for the number of animals his shelter puts to death and for allegedly not cooperating enough with animal rescue groups wishing to save the animals' lives.
Orr said he has always euthanized as few animals as he could manage and that he's been unfairly criticized. But he sees no way the county facility can be no-kill. In some instances, said Orr, there's no choice.
“You take a vicious dog that has bitten somebody, there’s no good alternative," said Orr. "You can’t let that animal be adopted. Some just have to come out of the population.”
Bell said he hoped the committee devises a plan that is as humane as possible.
“I am committed to partnering with animal rescue organizations,” he said. “If they take on that responsibility to finding homes for all the animals, then it can be a no-kill shelter. It’s up to them, it’s not up to us.”
Bell said the group would have a recommendation within 90 days.
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