By VICKI URBANIK

Plans are underway for an expansion of the Porter County Animal Shelter, both to improve current shelter conditions and to accommodate additional animals.

Porter County Commissioner President Robert Harper said the tentative plans call for a pole barn-type of a building, possibly measuring about 30 by 40 feet, to provide space for about 24 dogs, including dog runs.

Harper said the current dog cages aren’t large enough, especially for the larger breeds. There’s barely enough room to lay down a blanket or other dog bed, he said. “What’s there now isn’t too humane. The cages are too small,” he said.

If the new building goes through as planned, Harper said some of the larger dogs could be moved into the new facility, in turn freeing up space in the current shelter. He also said that the new building could provide room for the dogs under observation because of biting or other aggressive behavior, as well as additional storage space.

He said the project would serve the dual purpose of improving the current shelter while providing space for more animals.

The county commissioners will consider moving forward with a request for proposals for the new building when they meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the County Administration Center, Valparaiso. The project could be funded out of the commissioners’ discretionary funds through the county income tax funds, Harper said.

The county commissioners took over the operations of the animal shelter in May, after disbanding the Animal Welfare Board, at least temporarily. Their actions came on the heels of at least two animal abuse cases, the resignations of two consecutive shelter directors, and disagreements among members of the animal board.

The commissioner take-over at times has been bumpy. Several former animal welfare board members objected at a commissioner meeting when the commissioners approved ordinances setting up new animal shelter funds. More recently, a former animal shelter volunteer, Delbert Hershberger, was arrested on a charge of trespassing after police said he refused to leave the shelter after being asked to. This week, Hershberger was protesting outside of the County Administration Center.

The disagreements stem at least in part from the shelter’s new direction of trying to reduce euthanizations of animals deemed adoptable.

Harper said the goal is not to become a “no-kill” shelter – he noted that animal euthanizations will still be necessary – but to increase pet adoptions and low-cost spay-neuter programs.

The goal, he said, is to “try not to euthanize adopt-able animals.”

Posted 8/1/2008