Animal shelter taking level one priority animals only

By Charlotte Underwood 

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Campbell County Commissioners heard the monthly animal center report from director Patricia Siwinski at Monday’s workshop. The center is still taking level one priority animals only, according to Siwinski.

This would include animals that are “suffering or their life is in danger, or dog bites that need to be quarantined.”

Siwinski reported that in the month of May, the center had 460 animals in their care.

“At end of month, we had 260 Animals in our care. Our euthanasia for the month was 2.2 percent,” Siwinski said.

Despite adopting animals out and sending others to rescues, overcrowding at the animal center continues to be an ongoing issue.

“We continue to be overflowing and only have 50 kennels. We had intakes of 50 animals in the last seven days. We are taking level one priorities only, such as where a pet’s life is in danger or the pet is suffering or dog bites that must be quarantined,” Siwinski said.

 The animal center took in ten animals last week due to arrests.

“Thirty percent of our kennels are on court hold. It does cost to get their animals back, but most of the time they don’t pay it and we get stuck with them. So, while we can’t take animals and are only accepting level one priorities, we are obligated to take some regardless of how full we are,” Siwinski explained.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/11/2024-6AM)