Code tweak helps animal shelter plans move ahead

A zoning change has cleared a key obstacle for the years-long push to build the region’s first animal shelter.

 On April 14, the Weiser City Council voted unanimously to add an animal shelter to the list of things allowed on land classified as “industrial” within city limits.

 The Weiser River Animal Shelter and Rescue asked for the city code clarification to help secure two industrial acres off E. Fourth St. near the Weiser Community Fishing Pond. The lot, currently a storage yard for irrigation equipment, is owned by Union Pacific Railroad and leased by the Farmers Supply Cooperative. Non-profit Chairman John Aegerter said the agricultural supplier is open to giving up the property.

 Aegerter and company have spent years trying to find a home for what would be the only animal shelter in Washington County. Zoning issues derailed previous attempts to use both city and county property.

 “As a city council, we have shied away from having any area in the city that an animal shelter could be,” Councilman Larry Hogg said. “I can say that because I was one of those with that opinion. But ... we need something.”

 Currently, lost, stray or abandoned animals either wind up at the Weiser pound or in the personal care of rescue volunteers. A shelter would help ease overcrowding, not replace the pound, which would continue to handle problem animals.

 The updated ordinance allows an animal shelter so long as there is not another one within a five-mile radius. This excludes the government-run facilities like the pound where rescue workers regularly volunteer.

 “As far as I’m concerned,” Hogg said, “they have worked tirelessly and in good faith to try to, No. 1, do this right, and No. 2, do it to where everybody agrees that it’s a good thing.”

 The city’s ordinance amendment notice can be found on page 13 of today’s issue of the Signal American.