Even as they compulsively speak of “DOGE”-dictated government efficiency and stress over limited budgets, Flagler County and Palm Coast’s governments are setting up a joint task force to study the possibility of building or operating a multi-million animal shelter separate from the non-profit Flagler Humane Society, which since 1982 been the only full-service animal shelter in the county.
The two governments’ elected officials agreed to a task force at a joint meeting on Wednesday. If there is agreement to explore the matter, there’s little agreement on how to get there–or even whether it is necessary to get there. City officials more than county officials favor breaking away from the Humane Society. Its shelter off U.S. 1 is overcrowded.
The society wants to expand. It has no concrete plans or capital campaign to do so. County and city officials, in part pressured by the public and former volunteers at the society, have been critical of the shelter’s operations, accusing it of lacking transparency, accountability and the physical wherewithal to meet its responsibilities. The alleged mishandling or euthanizing of some animals has also drawn criticism.
The society doesn’t dispute that its facility is overcrowded but it disputes the other claims, including accusations that it has improperly or unnecessarily euthanized animals. Non-profit shelters like the society typically have lower euthanizing rates than do government shelters.
“FHS has been providing animal control services and animal sheltering to the county with great efficiency and compassion since 1982,” the society’s executive director, Amy Carotenuto, said today. “We also provided animal control services for the city of Palm Coast until their code enforcement department took it on roughly 15 years ago. FHS provides municipalities with much more bang for their buck because we are able to supplement with fundraisers, our low-cost veterinary services, Thrift store, donations etc.”
Both governments, as do Flagler Beach and Bunnell, contract with the society for sheltering services. All governments except for Palm Coast also contract for animal control services. Flagler County is considering ending that relationship and contracting with Palm Coast for animal control services.
“It’s important that we come up with some plan moving forward,” Palm Coast City Council member Ty Miller said of a separate shelter, “because as of right now, I don’t think we have the facilities to support what we need.”
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris considers it “pretty simple” to coordinate a new animal control system. “That’s an easy one,” he said. “The main problem we have is the facility and having the capacity to deal with the stray animals, or the animals at large. So that’s where the real meat of this matter that’s been going on for a while now.”
Unlike the cost of animal control services, which can–and have been–itemized down to the cost of vehicles and uniforms, the local governments have no analyses either about the cost of building a shelter or running one. Typically, animal shelters are expensive to build. Orange County’s ongoing experience is sobering, with costs running in the tens of millions of dollars, though Miller cites data from Putnam County that suggests the costs can be much more reasonable. The Putnam data is incomplete for now, however.
Shelters are also expensive to run: the society runs on a $3 million annual budget. A separate operation would inevitably duplicate or add to the costs, shifting theme entirely to taxpayers, without necessarily ending the society’s operations.
Miller said the capital costs will be the largest upfront burden, with recurring costs to follow. “But at some point we have to stop talking about it and do something,” he said. “Because we’ve been talking about it for a while. We’ve been talking about it for as long as I’ve been on our board. And I’m sure this conversation has been going on before that. So at some point, we need to get serious about creating a plan and then going down that road in order to get this done, because it will take some time to get that money set aside. This is going to be a couple million dollars at least, plus land. So as soon as we create the plan, that’s when we got to start saving for it.”
Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri has been uneasy with the society’s sheltering services but before talking about a separate shelter, the council should discuss adding the initiative to its Strategic Action Plan, or list of long-term goals. “That’s how we get funding for things,” Pontieri said.
County Commission Chair Andy Dance considers discussions of a separate shelter premature. “Let me be the counter to what is being said here,” he said. The most efficient way to provide sheltering services would be with a “sole-source provider,” meaning the society. “There’s room at the Humane Society for additional facilities,” he said. The local governments are strapped for money–officials at the same meeting complained about library funding–“so we have to be really careful,” he said, and not throw out options.
Commissioner Kim Carney said the original goal was to settle the question of animal control services. “But we also understand the need for the expanded facility or new facility,” she said, without necessarily seeing an expanded facility as separate from the Flagler Humane Society–which has land on which to expand, and a central location.
The county and the city are considering including capital dollars for animal sheltering in their annual legislative requests. The council will be discussing that proposal at its Aug. 19 meeting.
Interim City Manager Lauren Johnston and County Administrator Heidi Petito said a task force that would include representatives from both governments and some volunteers–the society was not mentioned–would produce data, including projected costs of land and construction, and present “action items,” in Johnston’s words, to the two governments at a subsequent joint meeting. That’s where the officials left the discussion.
Disappointed says
A dog shot multiple times but is left in a crate without vet care and pain meds for a few days is INHUMANE. The animal control officer for Flagler County was criminally charged for this. One of the county meetings it was mentioned of her being fired by the previous board of directors years ago and rehired once the board changed. This is what you’ll get when dealing with a private organization.
One of many incidents but one that shadows the level of care. Walking in the door will never show you what happens behind the scenes.
I would feel more confident in an organization which admits these allegations have a little truth and show where they are making changes to improve, rather than denying and calling the previous staff, volunteers and board members disgruntled.
What happened with the small dog killed there a week ago during a meet with a dog? The poor dog was killed in front of the owner! Why did the staff member drop the leash to let him run up to this small dog?
What happened with the dog getting killed by a pig after slipping a leash by an untrained staff member who just started working. The outdoor kennel was broken, not repaired until this poor dog was killed.
The point is, there are many situations the public will not hear about. It is only public when staff and volunteers speak about it, but they are fired for doing so and then considered disgruntled.
There was a staff member with a violent history working in kennels with the dogs, he had an active warrant. This same employee jumped in the face aggressively of a few female volunteers who informed the director. Even with being shown his violent history and arrests, he continued employment and working in kennels. Aggressive people abuse dogs, this is unacceptable.
Pogo says
@Well, of course
… it’s what they do:
https://www.google.com/search?q=vance+raise+the+river
My thoughts says
Mayor Norris comment “That’s an easy one” shows taxpayers in Palm Coast he is totally clueless how the operations of an animal shelter operates. He can’t even run the City of PC correctly when his own council members have asked the Governor of Florida to remove him from office.
Every company has disgruntled ex-employees and that is exactly how this all started. They formed a group of women that show up to every meeting wearing red shirts not sure what their exhibiting except making themselves look like complete fools.
The Flagler Humane Society Director Amy Carotenuto is more than qualified to operate an animal shelter along with her years of training in the Animal Control field and now is President of FAPA Florida Animal Protection Agency as well is Certified in Animal Euthanasia.
The people that are throwing stones at the Flagler Humane Society lack all the qualification that Amy Carotenuto has. The Flagler Humane Society has the property to expand its shelter but no one has even asked them to sit down and discuss that possibility.
There is a saying Don’t fix something that isn’t broken and that is what is happening here.
I am a proud volunteer at the Flagler Humane Society and witness the love and compassion Amy is with all animals that walk through their doors as well as the staff has the same amount of compassion.
CJ says
Animal Control should be brought under the umbrella of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office as Animal Control Officers have enforcement capabilities and county wide jurisdiction. Also, with the contract agreements between the Sheriff’s Office, the County Government, and the city of Palm Coast, some sort of agreement should be able to be panned out. This would also consolidate services and prevent duplication of services. It would also provide for 24/7 coverage.
Robjr says
County and Palm Coast ‘Task Force’ Will Explore Cost of Animal Shelter Separate from Flagler Humane Society
Code for increased taxes and duplicate services.
Rage against the regime says
the only thing that got cut were programs that help people so that the richest 300 people can have even more money ! That’s the truth oh and republicans protect pedophiles! So the govt spends more people just get less! That Republican terror! Starve those children for a dolla!
Lock him up says
Animal shelters provide affordable care for animals including rabies shots, spaying, even death. So to remove to replace with something that cost more is bad for animals and people. Expect more pain and suffering for animals and humans with the orange terror and his cult terrorizing people! Animals need love not republican hate!
Sherry says
Efficiency and Efficacy be damned!
JimboXYZ says
The way it’s laid out in the article, sounds like another YMCA-like facility project for a new facility & pool. Obviously an animal shelter for abandoned pets would have a significantly higher usage rate than the YMCA facility for pool users & gym members ? For some abandoned dog breeds, would become a permanent new home for the irresponsible pet owners that should’ve never had a pet in the 1st place. Is this something that makes more sense to continue to contract with the Humane Society, just like the YMCA facility ? Constructing & funding a shadow operation of what the Humane Society already does is a little more difficult than Mayor Norris shrugs it off as. Because any animal neglect & abuse is always that potential, that even the Humane Society has faced for scrutiny. Back to Alfin0ville growth, more people, follows that there will be an increase in abandoned pets form the same types that have created the existing problems for those same issues. A county shelter, need to ask who’s kid graduated Veterinary school ? Are we gonna see the usual internship revolving door for anyone that wants to donate their time at the animal shelter. That’s just the way Palm Coast & Flagler County staff things.