City Ready For Shelter Opening

FACILITY NAMED AFTER LATE LESTER C. HOWICK WHO WAS INVOLVED IN ANIMAL ISSUES

FAYETTEVILLE — Farmington's animal control officer will be able to transport a stray dog or cat to the new Washington County Animal Shelter 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“I think it's going to be a lot easier as far as intake,” said Dan Ledbetter, the city's public works director. “We'll have better access after hours.”

The new shelter, located behind the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center, has a sally port for animal control officers to use. An animal control officer will drive the vehicle through the sally port, then close the door to secure the area. The officers then will be able to place the animal in a kennel, feed it and fill out paperwork.

The city of Farmington will pay the county $85 for each animal it drops off at the county facility.

Currently, Farmington contracts with the city of Fayetteville for animal control services and pays $75 per animal. Ledbetter said the city delivers an average of 170 animals per year to the Fayetteville facility.

Shelter Director Shonna Harvey said the 10,000-square-foot building will serve unincorporated Washington County, as well as all smaller cities in the county, except Lincoln and Prairie Grove. These two cities, which opted not to sign contracts with the county, provide their own animal control.

The shelter will accept dogs and cats from animal control officers beginning Sept. 17 and will open to the public Sept. 24.

Washington County Judge Marilyn Edwards said she is thrilled about the new animal shelter and believes most residents of Washington County also will be happy with it. She said officials estimate the shelter will be able to handle about 3,000 dogs and cats a year.

The new state-of-the-art facility has been named after the late Lester C. Howick, who was involved in animal issues in the county more than 20 years ago. Edwards said Howick loved animals and chaired the county's Animal Concerns Advisory Board many years ago.

The $2 million shelter has many amenities to help take care of the animals. The building has a separate dish washing room with a commercial dishwasher to clean water and food bowls, a grooming station and laundry area and an overflow room for dogs and cats.

All animals brought to the shelter by animal control officers will go through health and wellness checks by veterinarian Dr. Nancy Belknap and then be placed in a holding area for 10 days to make sure other health problems are not evident.

The facility has separate isolation rooms for sick cats and dogs, a vet clinic, office space and adop- tion areas with kennels for dogs, puppies and cats. A large room at one end of the building will be used as an education room. Here, clients will be able to interact with animals they hope to adopt and shelter employees will provide information on caring for the animal.

Harvey said shelter workers are ready to open and accept animals.

“I think it's a wonderful shelter,” Harvey said. “It will be a wonderful, temporary home for animals.”

She said volunteers are needed in all areas and anyone wishing to volunteer at the shelter can go to the county website for more information, www.co.washington.ar.us.