CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- The construction of the new Montgomery County Animal Care & Control facility that was to be built on Needmore Road has been halted due to issues with the land.
A 15-acre plot in the 500 block of Needmore Road had been approved by the Montgomery County Commission as the site of the new 35,000 square foot Montgomery County Animal Control facility.
The facility was designed to provide adequate space to care for 250 animals and include space for amenities including a pet salon, veterinary clinic, surgical procedures, rental space for community functions, as well as walking trails, a playground, dog park and an area dedicated to the adoption procedure.
“Unfortunately due to some issues concerning the title on the property we were forced to abandon pursuit of this property,” said Animal Control Director David Kaske. ” It was something that was out of our control and only discovered after a title search was performed in the closing process.”
Kaske said Animal Control is currently searching for a new piece of property with a few prospects already.
“Once we locate a new piece of property we will have to go through the committee level and commission level for approval again,” Kaske said. “Until we secure a piece of property, to not burden the county at this time with the crisis that we are working through, we will not seek budget for a building design as it would directly relate to the actual property we would be placing the shelter on.”
The present shelter at 616 N. Spring Street is seriously overcrowded and the facility’s capacity is very low for a community the size of Clarksville-Montgomery County.
The current 7,000 square foot facility holds 54 large dogs, 30 smaller dogs and has a room for cats. MCAC cares for and processes a “tremendous amount” of animals averaging 4,600 animals per year, Kaske said.
The lobby areas are crowded and the parking lot small.
Along with overcrowding, the building has a number of other problems like leaks in the roof, kennel walls that are falling apart, and concrete issues. All of which are too costly to repair or replace in an older building that was not designed to be an animal shelter.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Animal Control continues to be open and operate in Phase 1 and is still doing adoptions and surrenders by appointment only.
They are allowing one customer in their lobby at a time to complete transactions or look for adoptable pets. In addition all staff are practicing social distancing and utilizing PPE such as mask and gloves.