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| | Thursday, November 16, 2017
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Animal shelter funding (Update)
I have received a number of comments in response to the story airing today with regard to organizations seeking to assist animals in Newport and Cocke County. Just to clarify the situation. I did a report on the request for funding which the Sleele rescue group made to the Cocke County Finance Committee earlier this week. In turn, the Friends organization provided me with a response, which I also presented in my news report today. I have decided I will not be involved in a continuing back and forth argument between the groups....what I do suggest is that the groups sit down and develop a working agreement, as a way to benefit the animals of Cocke County. That also likely would be helpful in resolving the funding issue with both Newport and Cocke County.................. Monday evening the Cocke County Finance Committee agreed to recommend that a local dog rescue group, Steele Away Home Canine Foster and Rescue, be given $25,000 of the $100,000 in this years budget for operation costs of the Friends Animal Shelter. Representatives of the Steele Away group say they have served as animal control for the county in recent months because the Friends shelter was closed and the county had no where to take it's animals. But now the Friends group has responded with a statement saying that during the four and one-half months that the shelter was closed, it has spent over $20,000 in materials to repair the shelter. "We have donated over 700 hours of volunteer labor for this cause. If any group deserved to receive the $25,000 for this time and effort, it should be the Friends," the statement says The statement says the Friends group cared for animals that could not be turned away during the time the shelter has been closed. "The animals that Steele Away took in are only ones that are easily adoptable, and she sells them for at least $80.00 each on rescue. She provided no service for the city or county animal control, but she wants to be paid for this," the statement continues. The group also says it recently paid a $300 vet bill for a dog that was struck by a car. According to the Friends group they asked the Steele Away group if they would foster and feed five baby kittens when the mother had been killed by a car, but received no assistance. They say they allowed the Steele Away group to use a Friends van for more than three years without charge. Repairs to the Friends shelter and grounds have been completed and the shelter was ready to open on Oct. 1st., but the agreement with the city and the county has not yet been ratified. Monday evening the Newport City Council was told discusions continue toward ratification of a contract involving the Friends group, the city and Cocke County. And the Cocke County Legislative Body is expected to address the issue of funding for the shelter and the Steele group at it's Monday evening meeting.
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