The Marion County Board, at a special meeting Tuesday night, approved a contract to house dogs picked up by animal control at the Barking Lot on South Elm in downtown Centralia.
Board Chair Steve Whritenour says they will receive 12 runs for $5,000 a month through December. He says the contract will allow dogs from all Marion County communities to be taken there by Marion County animal control. The old contract with Centralia allowed for only dogs picked up in unincorporated portions of the county to be housed.
Whritenour feels this is a good deal and cheaper than the $6,200 a month contract offered by Centralia that was turned down.
“It’s definitely a win across the board for all of us, but again it’s not our long-term solution,” Whritenour said. “We have bounced several different ideas over the past several months, possibly buying a facility. This gives us time that we need to do a deeper dive into what the future of Marion County is as far as an animal shelter or animal control goes, what we’re going to do with these dogs, purchasing or building a building. That’s what we have now until the end of the year to do.”
The contract allows for any individual dog to be housed for only 14 days. Under state law, dogs do not have to be kept longer than 14 days.
Animal Control Officer Ken Ferguson says he’ll be working to get dogs returned or adopted out during the 14 day period. He was assured those interested in adopting a dog would be able to view it at the Barking Lot.
Whritenour says they will continue their Facebook page and will be able to utilize the Barking Lot’s social media as well.
