Bay residents announce funding for new city kennel

Bay resident Nancy Brown asks for the city’s support in the construction of a new animal kennel at the Oct. 3 City Council meeting.

 The Friends of the Bay Village Kennel, a group of residents who formed over a year ago to promote a new city kennel, presented two petitions to Bay City Council at its Oct. 3 meeting. The nearly 2,500 signatures on the internet petitions came from all over the world, opposing the city’s decision to outsource animal care and control to the Cuyahoga County animal shelter.

Bay resident Tom Kauker read a letter on behalf of the FOBVK announcing that the group has secured funding from a local private donor to construct a new kennel. The group has also received commitments from volunteers to assist with the planning and operations of a new facility. Kauker asked the council members if the city would work with the FOBVK in the planning stages, as well as manage the kennel.

Council President Brian Cruse agreed to meet with the group in the next two or three weeks to discuss the situation.

Nancy Brown (pictured) followed Kauker with a statement supporting the construction of a new animal kennel at the Oct. 3 city council meeting. Brown also inquired about the status of $7,000 in residents’ donations to the city for the purpose of animal care and control, as well as a $1,000 American Express gift card donated for the same purpose.

Finance Director Steven Presley responded that the $7,000 was budgeted for animal care and any funds not used in 2011 will be carried over to 2012. The gift card remains unused.