Mount Vernon News

MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Commissioners approved a partial grant — amounting to 25 percent — for the Knox County Humane Society, to be used only with the canine program. The remaining amount is to be approved after concerns over the county’s cat shelter are addressed. On Monday morning, the commissioners met with David Guffey, chairman of the board for the Knox County Humane Society, to discuss the situation.

The commissioners signed a letter, addressed to Guffey and the humane society, which highlights several concerns. The first is the sign posted on the humane society’s door, which states the facility is not accepting cats and kittens. This is in direct violation of the original agreement dated Aug. 29, 1991.

The letter also states that “The overpopulation problem needs to be addressed immediately and the shelter [needs to] be open to the public and accept stray, unwanted and/or injured cats a minimum of five days per week.”

“Nine thousand dollars is our typical grant to the humane society,” said Commissioner Allen Stockberger. “The commissioners are willing to advance $2,250 ... specifically for the dog program. The balance will be available once these issues have been addressed.”

Stockberger said that by withholding the full amount of the grant, the humane society will be compelled to resolve the issues surrounding the cat shelter in a timely manner.

“The intent here is to withhold funding from [the feline program] in order to obtain greater cooperation in trying to achieve the goals set forth over 16 years ago,” said Stockberger.

Overpopulation in the cat shelter is of particular concern to the commissioners and Guffey because of the potential spread of feline infectious peritonitis, a fatal disease which strikes cats. FIP cannot be reliably detected until the affected cat is symptomatic, and then it is untreatable, according to Guffey. The disease can be spread among groups of cats through feces, and the current communal living conditions at the cat shelter may be conducive to the spread of the disease.

“Is there a defined target of population size at the Columbus Road [location]?” asked Guffey.

Commissioner Tom McLarnan initially responded that a target population for the facility is 75 cats. However, after further questioning by Guffey, the commissioners were not able to give a definitive population target. Guffey then suggested that someone contact the Kokosing Valley Veterinary Association and have it return a target population estimate to the commissioners and the humane society.

At the close of the meeting, Guffey agreed to present the humane society board with the commissioners’ concerns, and also agreed to have another meeting with the commissioners Sept. 4 in order to update them on the humane society’s progress in the areas of concern.

Guffey and the humane society have a 60-day time frame to address the issues at the cat shelter, including accepting cats, the issue of overpopulation and an estimate for a target population at the cat shelter.

Also on Monday morning, the commissioners met briefly with Knox County Park District Director Kim Marshall to discuss the acquisition of the rail line between Howard and Millwood. The commissioners would like to acquire the land for use in the county’s plan for de-centralized sewers for small hamlets throughout the county, including Millwood. The property is in the midst of being appraised, and Marshall gave a brief report on the appraisal process.