Rensselaer County residents want animal shelter

EAST GREENBUSH — Rensselaer County needs an animal shelter, residents told legislators Wednesday night as they lobbied to get a full-service facility to fill a growing demand to care for strays and abandoned pets.

The push for action found a sympathetic audience as Republican and Democratic legislators said the issue has to be studied and a plan developed for dealing with animals in a humane way.

“They’re starting to realize the county needs an animal shelter,” said Valerie Lang Waldin of the New York State Humane Society, who has taught animal law at Hudson Valley Community College.

“We need more lifesaving shelters in the Capital Region and in Rensselaer County in particular. And as citizens and community leaders it is our duty to respond to the needs of the helpless — and animals are the helpless,” she said.

Susan Mcdonough, also representing the humane society, said state law only requires dogs to be taken in, but if the county doesn’t include cats it will face health issues as the animals are abandoned and left to fend for themselves.

In the Capital Region, Saratoga County is the only county that runs an animal shelter. Some small towns have shelters but many communities have relied on the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in Menands.

But Mohawk Hudson doesn’t have the capacity to deal with the number of animals brought to its kennels. Last year, the society cut ties with 16 municipalities as it confronts a lack of room in its 86 dog kennels and changes in state law.

“We had to make a very difficult decision because we are beyond capacity. The number of animals that have been coming through the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society has increased exponentially,” CEO Ashley Bouck said.

“We are in full support of there being a municipal shelter in Rensselaer County. If you don’t address the cats you are going to have serious public health issues,” Bouck said.

Tammy Cameron, who owns a farm in Berlin in eastern Rensselaer County, said she is concerned that abandoned cats and dogs will overwhelm her operation as well as other farms. She is worried that if a shelter is not established she will have to worry about protecting her livestock.

Legislature Chairwoman Kelly Hoffman, R-c-north Greenbush, said a special legislative committee will have to be formed to study the animal shelter issue.

Hoffman said the county would have to consider what approach to take and would have to consult with County Executive Steve Mclaughlin over fiscal impacts.

Hoffman said the county would count on Bouck and the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society to advise the county as it explores options.

Legislators Ken Zalewski and Nina Nichols, both Troy Democrats, said the county needs an animal shelter.