General News: Cornwall Animal Shelter Faces Closure
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| Animal control officer Boyle holds Casper, a pit bull puppy, inside the shelter office. |
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| The town animal shelter. |
May 19, 2008
The town of Cornwall is looking for a way to contract out the care of animals that are held at the town dog shelter, now located behind town hall.
Supervisor Kevin Quigley confirmed plans to close the shelter after the town animal control officer, Annette Boyle, posted a blog on this website urging people to adopt the dogs currently at the shelter because it was going to close.
Quigley said that no plans have been finalized but he is working with Tom DiCarrado of the Friends of Cornwall Animal Shelter to find an existing shelter, like the ASPCA shelter in New Windsor, that will take in strays found in Cornwall for a fee.
”No other town in Orange County operates an animal shelter,” Quigley said. “It’s time to make a move.”
Quigley noted that the barking dogs have long been an issue for neighbors of the shelter, who got a court order against the town years ago. He also said that the dogs could get better care, and more exercise, at a professionally-run facility. He pointed out that one dog had been in the Cornwall shelter for two years, too long for any animal to be held by the town.
Boyle, who has been the town animal control officer for six years, says that it is difficult to find homes for some dogs, like pit bulls, because of their reputation for aggression. Boyle says the reputation is unwarranted.
In the past year, with the support of Friends of the Cornwall Animal Shelter, trainers have been brought in to make the dogs more adoptable. Volunteers walk the animals daily.
Quigley said that no move will happen for at least two or three months.
For her part, Boyle sent out a notice over the weekend that a new dog is available for adoption at the shelter. Click here for details.
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