An open letter from an Animal Control Manager

To whom it may concern:

The 501(c)3, non-profit “Guardians of Angels” has long advocated for an animal adoption facility in, or very near the Town of Pittsboro. This discussion toward this goal began 5 ½ years ago.

I strongly endorse this project and a Pittsboro location. Here’s why:

Such a cooperative facility would help relieve the pressure on the county animal shelter of overpopulation of good adoptable dogs. CCAC has but 20 indoor/outdoor dog runs. We often have to kill very good, adoptable dogs when space becomes a problem.

The many, people who live in Cary, Apex and Western Wake would drive to Chatham to see the dogs and cats. They already like Chatham and Pittsboro. A private adoption facility would give them another good reason to visit and spend money in restaurants, shops and other retailers, in addition to adopting our surplus dogs and cats.

The most recent estimated projected cost of expanding the county animal shelter to include a co-located adoption facility is near $800,000.

Guardians is a private non-profit. It’s financially advantageous for the county and the Town to engage Guardians by discussions and partial funding, renewable annually based on performance.

Obviously Guardians need to raise much private money. Guardians is already doing that and I believe private donations will greatly improve when local governments make noteworthy contributions.

The bottom line for me as AC Manager and (here I’ll speak for) Krista Ritter, Animal Shelter Manager, is that we reduce the number of good dogs killed at the shelter due to lack of space and assure that they find good homes via outsourcing to a local private non-profit adoption facility.

John Sauls
AC Director (retired)