The Meridian City Council is looking at available funding as it weighs a proposal to build a new city animal shelter, hire new officers and purchase vehicles.

 

The council in February authorized the creation of six new part-time animal control officer positions, which will allow the department to provide 24/7 service within the city limits.

 

In a work session Tuesday, Animal Control Director Brian McCary said efforts to hire those officers has begun, but the department will need an additional two vehicles to make sure staff are able to respond when and where they are needed. The department currently has three vehicles and can surplus one when the new equipment arrives, he said.

 

Also discussed was a plan to build a new animal shelter to replace the old, outdated facility currently in use on Cooper Avenue. Building a new facility has been a topic of conversation for several years, and council members last year earmarked $200,000 toward its construction.

 

The plan involves the complete demolition of the current animal shelter, including the slab foundation, and construction of a new facility in its place. Animal Control would temporarily relocate to the neighboring building, used for housing strays, while construction is underway.

 

McCary on Tuesday said cost estimates put the project at $753,625, including architectural fees. Should the council decide to move forward, he said another $553,000 in funding will be needed.

 

Councilman Dwayne Davis, who has been a vocal supporter of the plan to build a new animal shelter since the beginning, said he believes the council should move forward with allocating the money and getting the project started. The current shelter is past its useful life, he said, and Meridian’s residents and pets deserve better.

 

While the council mulls over the funding portion of the plan, McCary said animal control is seeing an uptick in animals being dumped as the Lauderdale County Animal Shelter is temporarily closed for HVAC work. Meridian Animal Control cannot take animals from residents outside the city limits, he said, and that unfortunately has led to more pets being abandoned on city streets.

 

Both Meridian and Lauderdale County residents should know dumping animals is a crime, McCary said, and they will face consequences if caught.

 

“It is against the law to abandon an animal on city streets and if they’re caught they will be held liable for it,” he said.