Op-Ed: DeKalb Animal Adoption Center and Shelter

DeKalb Commission actions indicate to me that some of the members' votes are totally selfishly political and they care not for the welfare of the animals. If they did, the "dog pound" would not still be a debacle. Only citizen pressure has brought them this far. 

Without that outside pressure, I doubt any movement toward a modern animal facility and adoption services would have even occurred to them. Lifeline was a very bright spot in the quest to improve the animal situation in DeKalb and I applaud the Commission and the CEO for approval of their contract - even after a long period of consideration.    

I have asked via one method or another that the CEO and Commission think about "killing two birds with one stone" (oops, maybe a bad example here). On Scott Boulevard there are two huge closed auto dealerships with unbelievable access and plenty of parking and are easily accessible from anywhere in DeKalb and beyond. 

From the comments of the Commission, nobody seems to recognize the opportunity for a wide area and unlimited market for adoption. Too bad our elected officials tend to think of only "their" districts as the market for these precious animals. Statements by some of our commissioners who talk about distance from their districts seems to prove this notion.  

Additionally, I have read veterinarians' and animal psychologists' opinions  that intermittent loud noises, such as airplanes zooming over the shelter, could cause anxiety and fear in the animals with resultant antisocial behavior (maybe even in the staff) which may prevent their adoption or even continued mis-behavior after adoption... A defective product destined for return!   

In my personal case, if I want another adopted pet, the distance really is immaterial. I suspect that other motivated "adopters" feel the same. These buildings to which I earlier referred have everything a multimillion dollar animal facility would need including the space available for internal subdivisions for kennels, a clinic, show space, training space, offices, etc. In marketing anything, visibility and accessibility is everything. These big buildings have these additional positive characteristics.

The probable thinking is that the facilities would come off the tax rolls - big deal. The purchase price is about 30,000 -35,000 square feet in the two million dollar purchase range - negotiable of course since one is a REO property. The re-purposing cost is around 3-4 million dollars or about $115 per square foot, so I am told by an architect well known around DeKalb.

The extra two or three millions saved would more than compensate for the loss in taxes for a long time. Is this a no brainer or what? But who am I to suggest such a reasonable alternative? It's only tax money from one source or another paid by taxpayers from whatever source in the end. I will never understand governmental spending frenzies at many levels. Just ignorance on my part - I guess.

Related content:

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Jack Sartain is a Stone Mountain resident and animal lover