Published: January 21, 2008 11:55 am      

Preston animal shelter euthanasia rate hits low

KINGWOOD - The Preston County Animal Shelter took in 2,494 animals in 2007 and adopted out 1,294, or more than 51 percent.

County Animal Control Officer JoDeen Johnnie gave the figures as part of her quarterly report to Preston County Commissioners Vicki Cole, Craig Jennings and Dave Price.

"I was really happy with December, it was the lowest euthanasia rate we've had since I've been here," Johnnie said.

In December, 103 animals were brought to the shelter and 13 were euthanized.

Johnnie credited the many volunteers who work with the shelter and such initiatives as paws4people, the Pets for People Senior Program, Very Best Friends Network and others that aid the adoption process. She also praised Petco, Wal-Mart, and other businesses that provide donations and opportunities to show pets that are up for adoption.

Johnnie also had a list of requests for the shelter: Make part-time animal control officer Brent Stone full time, obtain a 14-foot stock trailer, be able to provide testing for feline leukemia in adoptable cats and kittens, add a cat adoption area separate from the room where cats are housed, and to put four to six outdoor dog kennels on concrete with a roof overhead.

Questioned by commissioners about the trailer, Johnnie said, "There are many people with more than 25 or 30 dogs" when pets are seized, and she only has a pickup in which to take them to the shelter. After hearing the presentation, Preston Assessor Terri Funk offered the use of her family's trailer any time it is needed.

Cole said that would work well, because there is no daily need for a stock trailer. No action was taken on the other requests.

In other discussions, County Administrator Kathy Mace said that sometime this week commissioners will be moving their offices to the area on the second floor of the courthouse that will eventually house the Magistrate Court. Work will then begin on the commission's current space.

Eventually, they will move to the former ATM building behind the courthouse annex.

"We're still really hoping to have you in your new location by early February," Mace said.

In other business, commissioners noted their Jan. 28 meeting is canceled so they can attend the West Virginia Association of Counties meeting. They also agreed to allow the assessor to pay the two county appraisers 50.5 cents per mile in mileage, while maintaining the rate at 48.5 cents for other employees.

Funk said the appraisers travel all types of road year round, and it would cost her more to buy and maintain a county vehicle than the mileage she pays them. County policy is to follow the state mileage rate. Cole said her research showed different state groups pay different mileage rates.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.