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Niagara Falls is getting a new temporary dog shelter on Grand Island through the end of the year.
Island Pet Lodge on Alvin Road will provided 10 kennels, enough space for about one fourth of the stray dogs in the city at any given time. If you see a stray dog and call the police you are likely to be told to leave it in place or take it into your home because there is no space at the shelter and the dog control officer is not on duty.
The agreement passed with a 3-1 vote with chairperson James Perry, and council persons Traci Bax and David Zajac voting yes and Donta Myles voting no during a special meeting Monday night.
During the debate on the topic, Myles read a text message from Amy Lewis, executive director of the Niagara County SPCA refuting a report from Acting Corporation Counsel Tom DeBoy that had offered to help the city with any overage of dogs.
The SPCA, which formerly sheltered as many as 60 dogs at a time for the city, terminated its contract about 18 months ago.
Niagara Falls then entered into a contract with The Pit Chic, Kelli Swagel, who worked with the city’s dog control officer, Donny Booth to handle 13 animals at a time and was continuously at capacity.
Swagel asked the city to terminate her contract two months ago because she is changing her business plan.
She has been the constant target of criticism from people associated with Paws Inn the Falls, a shelter that opened on Cayuga Drive in Wheatfield a few months ago.
Paws Inn the Falls bid on the temporary Niagara Falls contract but did not win. The facility’s representative, Janine Gallo, heckled from the gallery Monday and shouted profanities after the meeting spewing palpable angst.
