Proposed animal shelter could alleviate county's dog/cat conundrum
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Where will all the doggies go?

In the midst of concern about the fate of Carroll County's ability to afford animal control service in 2008, a possible breath of life was detected at the Tuesday night Carroll County Area Plan Commission meeting.

Andrew and Shawn Draper were granted a special exception for a kennel on a five-acre tract of land they own south of Delphi off of Prince William Road. The Drapers said they wanted to help the county with the animal control/overpopulation crisis it seems to be facing.

According to sheriff's department records, as of June 30 the county paid to shelter 157 dogs and 57 cats. The county council will soon decide whether the county can continue to afford to offer the service to residents.

Shawn Draper told the Comet Thursday she is employed at the animal shelter in Tippecanoe County. She said that facility sees many unwanted animals from Carroll County, as well as surrounding counties, and Carroll County's problem is becoming a burden for Tippecanoe County.

"There are lots of animals in the Tippecanoe County shelter from Carroll County. I saw the overflow there," Draper said. "I thought I could do something in my own county about this."

Draper said she and her husband "have been thinking along these lines for years." They have the land, the desire and some of the know-how to get a shelter up and running by next spring, "if not sooner." She said she received positive support and feedback about the plan from her boss in Tippecanoe County, Michelle Dexter, and from kennel manager Tom McCaw.

Draper went on to explain there have been times she provided animal control services for Carroll County residents due to the lack of resources at the sheriff's department. She worked with one local family to end a neglect situation. The couple also fosters unwanted animals and tries to find good homes for them.

Shawn is a Carroll County native who grew up in Rockfield and Flora. Andrew is from White County and works at Indiana Packers Corporation. They have lived on the proposed shelter site for approximately two years.

The couple's plan is to tear down the existing barn on the property and build a suitable facility. She understands the huge obstacles she and her husband must overcome to bring the plan to fruition.

Draper said she initially spoke with sheriff Tony Burns. He invited her to the next Animal Control Commission meeting Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. in Camden.

When the shelter opens Draper plans to offer community education about the need to spay and neuter all animals to stem the flow of overpopulation. She plans to apply for 501(c)3 status with the state to become a non-profit organization which would allow for grant funding and tax-exempt donations. She will spearhead low-cost spay and neuter clinics with local veterinarians to promote the concept. She would also like to be able to offer community service hours to those individuals in the court system who need hours.

Although she intends to work closely with the animal control commission, Draper said she does not want the facility and service to become a governmental department. She said she was interested in learning the role the county would play in the shelter plan, but would not let lack of funding stop the shelter goal from being reached.

"We're going to do with what we can get until we can do more," she said.

Draper has a lot to learn about developing her dream. For instance, she learned later in the day Thursday that Carroll County no longer collects a dog tax from pet owners. Therefore, kennel licenses are no longer issued in the county.

Draper said she and her husband would be seeking donations of dog food, construction materials and labor in upcoming months. To help with the project, she invited interested groups and individuals to contact her at (765) 543-9488.