Funding increase for shelter scrutinized

Several East Baton Rouge Parish council members expressed concerns Wednesday about a provision in the proposed 2013 budget that would increase by $113,800 funding for the Companion Animal Alliance, the nonprofit group that runs the city’s animal control shelter.

During a meeting conducted to discuss with council members Mayor-President Kip Holden’s proposed 2013 budget, Councilmen Ulysses “Bones” Addison, Trae Welch and Ronnie Edwards quizzed Parish Finance Director Marsha Hanlon about the rationale behind the increase.

The three council members said they were concerned after recent reports of problems at the CAA-run animal shelter from some CAA employees and from the public. The problems included reports of animal cruelty and mismanagement and spurred an investigation by the parish’s Animal Control and Rescue Center.

Animal Control and Rescue Center is a city-parish agency that used to handle enforcement and shelter operations. Fourteen months ago, the nonprofit CAA took over the sheltering, adoptions and euthanasia of animals so the shelter could eventually become a no-kill facility.

Addison said recent reports of problems at the shelter were troubling.

“We need to put something in place there because some of the things that are coming out of that place are just almost horrendous for us to see,” Addison said, referring to recent reports of animal cruelty. “To see some of the inhumane treatment that is coming out of that arena is something that we should not be seeing.”

Edwards criticized increasing funding for the animal shelter over other needs.

“We need to put priorities on the table that reflect the needs of the city-parish,” Edwards said.

Welch said that if the CAA couldn’t operate the shelter with what the city-parish provided in funds, then perhaps the city-parish should resume control of the operations.

“The reports that I have seen and the concerns that have come out in the media, I am having a hard time with this,” Welch said.

Hanlon said the shelter needs the funds.

“We (the city-parish) struggled with operation of the shelter, the organization has struggled with the operation of the shelter, so we felt some additional dollars were needed to bring that up to an acceptable level,” Hanlon said. “Whoever is dealing with that sheltering function is going to need some additional support.”

Wednesday’s meeting was a chance for members of the administration to meet with council members to explain the rationale behind spending choices in the proposed budget.

Several more meetings are scheduled before the full Metro Council votes on the budget Dec. 11.

Comments

1) Comment by phil - 09/11/2012

Not sure how black history got into this conversation. However, do we also need a new Hispanic and a new White history museum too? Did I cover all of the races? If anything, I think if we are going to have a new history museum it should just be a called a "history museum". I thought perhaps we were ALL way beyond the concept of different things for different folks. Apparently I was incorrect.

2) Comment by Youran Idiot - 09/11/2012

@newsreader "Whats wrong with a black history musuem?" Why should us animal lovers who care absolutely nothing about black history or a museum to house it in have to help fund it with OUR tax dollars? Animals are Gods living creatures and are there due to no fault of their own. Anyone that has ever been at this wretched shelter knows that not only do they need a new Director and new Board of Directors, they also need the money to help adequately care for these poor animals. The present Board of Directors of CAA was too stupid to negotiate enough money from the get go just as they have been too stupid to hire a director that wasn't either absolutely crazy or one that was abusive to animals. This parish needs to step up and get it right for our cities throw away animals. “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”....Mahatma Gandhi. Wait...maybe you don't recognize his name....he wasn't in your black history books.

3) Comment by spqr - 08/11/2012

@Newsreader...I have yet to read in the news about the cats and dogs shooting each other in the streets every night. I respect the helpless animals more than the thugs in this town.

4) Comment by Lynn210 - 08/11/2012

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a black history museum, but Bones has been hard on the shelter since day one, Newsreader, supporting other things, but has total disregard from OUR local shelter. Did it ever occur to you that taxpayers are dumping animals at our shelter, dismissing spaying and neutering, too much trouble, so we ALL have to pay for them to be taken care of and euthanized too? You are not even worth writing a response to...seriously, why even comment on this if you have a distaste for animals? It is PEOPLE who create the problems, not the animals. You are clueless. We can care about people AND animals, did ya know that?

5) Comment by NewsReader - 08/11/2012

What's wrong with having a black history museum? I somehow suspect more black people pay taxes than cats and dogs do. If pet lovers want more funding for a shelter, then there's an easy solution: increase the license fees for owning them and/or tack on a special tax on all supplies sold in pet departments and pet stores. Why should people who don't own pets and thus will never be to blame for strays have to incur the fees to keep abandoned pets alive? I swear people are more worried these days about pets than the well-being of some of their fellow citizens.

6) Comment by Lynn210 - 08/11/2012

This poor shelter will never get the funding they need from this crew of city parish council members. God help the animals who get tossed aside by EBR residents...and Duckyluve, you are right...Bones Addison is a JOKE and yes, he would rather have a black history museum than help the animals that folks decide they want, and then toss aside. UGH UGH. Baton Rouge, progressive city? Or not?

7) Comment by phil - 08/11/2012

When I saw one person who was originally involved in the CAA, I became concerned about this group from the beginning. I think we have created another level of administration and salaries and I believe this will be another deep hole for tax money to disappear into, and no problems will actually be solved. I do support the "no kill" concept and hope there will be a time when no animals are put to death. However, from what I have seen so far, my original beliefs about this nonprofit organization are coming true.

8) Comment by spqr - 08/11/2012

"Bones" is not the brightest member of the city council. Never has been. The Animal shelter is understaffed and a few dollars will help out, including hiring a vet. It is senseless to allow animals to suffer when there is a solution.

9) Comment by Duckyluve - 08/11/2012

Bones would rather spend that money on a black history museum. Go figure