Stray animals are costly to taxpayers

Animal control costs money, and the problem continues to grow in Clay County.

According to county judge-executive Tommy Harmon, 768 dogs were transported from the county to the Knox-Whitley Animal Shelter in 2023.

According to Harmon, “We are told that there are 300 more dogs than in any other county they serve.”

Judge Harmon and the fiscal court want to clarify their animal control officers' role in the county.

“The function and purpose of our animal control office and facility is to operate as a short-term facility,” he said. We hold animals for five days before transporting them. If they’re injured, we take them to Knox-Whitley immediately,” Harmon said.

The judge added that the contract to house the animals at Knox-Whitley is approximately $60,000 yearly.

“Our animal control officer and his team work hard to help solve the problems of stray animals across our county, but it’s getting harder,” the judge said.

The animals are available through adoption at Knox-Whitley. A licensed veterinarian eventually euthanizes those not adopted.

To help solve the stray dog issue, citizens are urged to have their animals spade and neutered.

If you have lost a dog, please call the Clay County Animal Shelter at (606) 598-1281 to determine if it has been picked up. If not claimed while housed there, dogs are available for adoption at the shelter.

The Clay Animal Shelter has limited space and can only hold dogs for five days before transporting them. The shelter is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.