Commissioner suggests downsizing animal shelter

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl drafted his recommendations on ways to improve the Mobile County Animal Shelter at Wednesday's county commission meeting.

The two main ideas Carl put forth in documents presented to the commission concerned downsizing the shelter to help with overcrowding and privatizing the shelter.

Carl suggests not taking any personal pet drop-offs, but referring them to an adoption agency.

“We're dealing with 7,500 dogs a year, currently. By doing that, we should be able to cut it down to around 4,000,” he said.

At the last county commission meeting, Commissioner Connie Hudson made several suggestions on how to improve the shelter and the way it operates.

Hudson formulated a list of recommendations :

1.       Appoint a medical Evaluation Team

2.       Engage an agency to evaluate the Mobile county Animal Shelter policy

3.      Appoint certified veterinarian(s)

4.      Appoint a community advisory board

5.      Appoint rescue group coordinators

Carl's and Hudson's suggestions will go to a newly created advisory board which will decide how the county should move forward.

Hudson said three vets have volunteered to be on-call for the shelter and serve as a certified veterinarian. One of the vets will also serve on the community advisory board.

The two commissioners launched investigations after 49 dogs were put down at the shelter after one adoptable dog was found to have distemper.