Karen Haynes points to conceptual drawings of animal shelter proposed at junction of Routes 62 and 34.

August 19, 2008

"I'm a 'behind the scenes' kind of person," Karen Haynes told Putnam Rotarians today, "but the animal shelter is something near and dear to my heart.

"About three years ago I volunteered at the animal shelter."

Her husband, County Commissioner Joe Haynes' first response was, "You can't bring all those animals home."

When the new volunteer arrived at the shelter in Winfield she was dismayed by its condition. "The odor knocked you down," said Haynes. "It was worse than a pig sty. I felt sorry for the animals that were living there."

Adoption rates were zero because the site was so depressing that the public stayed away.

Haynes began cleaning. She was there every day from opening to closing. "Even a pig sty can be clean," she said.

Gradually things began to change. Adoption rates began to pick up as the public returned. Attitudes among the staff improved. "People want to be there to take care of the animals," she said.

But much remains to be done. "When people move away, they leave their animals," Haynes told the group. "The shelter has only 24 runs and 15 cat cages for a population that varies from two to three hundred animals. Of necessity, the euthanasia rate is high. "A lot of good animals were being put down."

Putnam County needs a larger facility to care for its lost and abandoned animals, Haynes told the group, and the community is answering the call.

Proposed shelter floor plan

Pray Construction -- Mark Grigsby and Sherrie Payne -- have donated time and resources toward the shelter project. Par Four Family Entertainment Center, Living Fence, and even Marshall University have supported the new shelter. Marshall gave season tickets and signed footballs to be auctioned at the coming Marshall/WVU tailgate party at the Putnam Courthouse.

"This is business and community coming together to make this happen," said Haynes.

With continuing support, the new facility is planned for a 13.5 acre site presently owned by the Department of Highways at the junction of Routes 34 and 62 in Red House.

The proposed site would represent a county office presence north of the river which divides Putnam County. It would be visible to the public, and its proximity to the Courthouse complex in Winfield would be convenient for maintenance.

The site would accommodate walking paths for volunteers to stop by regularly to exercise the dogs. And an upper level would allow for stables for horses, goats -- even llamas --all of which have been brought to the shelter on occasion.

Why doesn't the county build the shelter? "The county could build it," replied Commissioner Joe Haynes. "The question is, when." The Commission is paying off the cost of its new judicial annex. The county needs a new center for emergency medical services. "I have to put people ahead of animals," said the commissioner. "Eventually we will build it, but with a private/public partnership it will come about much sooner."

The price tag for the new shelter is about $1 million and its capacity will be about four times the size of the present facility. There will be 75 dog runs and about 50 cat cages.

In addition there will be an isolation area for sick or diseased animals. The existing facility has no means of isolating diseased animals.

A "bonding" room would provide space for people to spend time with animals before adoption.

What is being done now to control the animal population in the county? A spay-and-neuter program is presently in place: When an animal is adopted from the shelter, a bond must be posted. The amount is refunded upon proof that the surgery has been performed.

What happened to the award? Well, there's no surprise there. Commissioner Joe Haynes matched it for a contribution of $1,000 to the Putnam animal shelter.