“A tiny shack, it’s really sad.” is how one person described the current facility that makes up the Town of Kingston Animal Control.
“A tiny shack, it’s really sad.” is how one person described the current facility that makes up the Town of Kingston Animal Control. Built by a former animal control employee out of the goodness of their heart, the small building wasn’t designed or built up to any codes or specifications. It is currently on the same grounds as the city sewer treatment plant and is not open to the public.
The very tight quarters have six tiny kennels to accommodate a limited number of animals, mostly dogs. It can be difficult when they need to take in any cats since there isn’t a separate area for them.
There is not any heating or a/c only large industrial fans in the summer and space heaters in the winter. With such limited space, Melissa Cruz can find it quite difficult at times to provide a safe comfortable space for those that she sets out to help.
This is why she will be conducting several fundraisers to help provide funding for a new facility. One that will address all needs and issues including a safe space for the intake of animals. She said the facility should not only be a safe place for the animals, but also a place where they feel safe, as well.
“Dogs can become aggressive when they are afraid and that makes them dangerous,” Cruz said.
This new proposed facility will not only provide 17 kennels to accommodate more dogs, it will also have a separate area for felines and a livestock pen. There are plans to also provide simple things like storage for food, medicine, and cleaning supplies, and an area to bathe and examine the animals as needed. Cruz said the new building will allow for more room to accommodate all needs in a safe way.
“My number one advocacy for this new facility is it provides a safe environment for the animals and employees”.
Cruz has been working at Kingston animal control for a year now and she is the only one in her department. Most of the work falls on her, she is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This project is near and dear to her heart. She said there are plans for the money collected from the fundraisers.
“Every dollar raised will go into a savings account specifically for the new facility,” Cruz said. “Our goal is to begin breaking ground by April 2024.”
Cruz said she knows that the new animal shelter will be beneficial for Kingston and all of Marshall County.When the “sister” shelter in Madill is at full capacity, they will be able to take advantage of the facility as needed and permitted.
“It is a vital partnership to help one another out,” Billie Karger with the Madill Animal Shelter said.
Cruz and Karger said they both recognize that working together in coordination will only help to benefit all of Marshall County, as they work together to share information and provide help when needed. Additional items proposed for the new facility will include a parking lot, a lobby for the public to enter, and a “quiet room” for nervous or anxious animals that will double as a training room.
Adding the parking lot and lobby will allow the public access to the animal shelter to adopt potential new pets and provide a safe space for anyone that may need to surrender their pets instead of dumping them. There are also plans for an outdoor area that will allow the dogs to run and socialize that can be used for pet adoption, as well.
This new project will be beneficial to the Town of Kingston since it will correct the issue of the current building being on the same grounds as the sewer plant. The DEQ is citing the Town of Kingston for the building being on said property.