Local governments say county needs another animal shelter

Kane County's $2.2 million animal shelter opened three years ago, and now a conglomeration of local governments believes the shelter is at capacity and a second shelter must be built.

Mary Randle, executive director of the Metro West Council of Government, told the county board's Public Health Committee Tuesday that new population counts will almost surely support the need for a second shelter. A higher population of county residents means a larger population of pets, Randle said. If that proves true, members of Metro West would support the construction of a second shelter on a prorated basis, she added. The population numbers will be key in showing whether or not the number of pets at the county's animal shelter is a long-term reality or an economic anomaly.

Animal shelter staff reported a notable uptick in the number of lost or abandoned pets appearing at the shelter as a result of the economy and local home foreclosures. Pets coming from foreclosed homes tend to have been neglected for some time before arriving at the shelter. Many of them are ultimately euthanized, but the shelter must care for them in the meantime.

Those pets come from all over the county. About 30 municipalities are members of the Metro West Council of Government, and most receive some form of animal control services involving the county's shelter. One service includes picking up stray pets and trying to locate their owners. When owners can't be located, the municipalities are billed for an animal's housing costs. Metro West has a committee established to tackle contract issues involving animal control services, including the push for a second animal shelter. Sleepy Hollow Village President Stephen Pickett chairs the committee.

Randle said studies are needed to decide where the best location for a second animal shelter would be. Ideas include expanding the current shelter on Keslinger Road in Geneva, or building a separate structure on the north end of the county. Randle said she plans to have a report back on that issue and the population numbers as soon as possible.