Josephine County shelter faces closure

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — Josephine County’s animal shelter is facing tough choices since it was cut loose from county funding.

Public Health Director Belle Shepherd told The Grants Pass Daily Courier newspaper they will have to close their doors to the public and euthanize more animals without more funding.

The county removed the shelter from the general fund in 2006, cutting its budget in half to $271,000 a year.

Most of the funding comes from licenses and adoption fees, but those haven’t kept up with costs. Meanwhile, the shelter remains short-staffed.

County Commissioner Dwight Ellis says despite the county’s ongoing financial problems, an exception should be made for the animal shelter.

It will be up to the budget committee to decide.

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Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com