COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Humane Society is pleading with Branch County Commissioners to give approval for making repairs and at least temporarily reopen the Branch County Animal Control Shelter building that was damaged by fire three months ago. Humane Society Director Jan Negeldinger told county commissioners at their meeting yesterday that the situation desperately needs attention.
According to Negeldinger, the May 28, 2015 blaze that forced the closing of the shelter south of Quincy has placed a big burden on the Humane Society, causing a lot of strife and stress with a number of volunteers quitting. She said the group was the first to step up and assist right after the fire and has continued to help shelter and locate animals. However, Negeldinger explained how the Humane Society’s mission is very different from what Animal Control does and if it reaches the point where her agency can no longer take in dogs, some of them will have to be put down.
County officials are continuing to examine their options to move forward on the shelter situation with a possible relocation in the mix. However, identifying the right solution has been delayed as the county has just hired a consultant to study how best to address the troublesome Branch County jail and what the design would be for a new facility and how much it would cost.
A temporary animal control impound has been set up at the jail.
