Montville Group Presses Town For New Animal Shelter

MONTVILLE, CT — A group of Montville citizens are pushing for the town to build a new animal shelter. They said the current shelter has been racking up violations with the state for years and needs to be replaced immediately.

Ann Gaulin, with the Montville Animal Shelter Community Team, said 50 to 80 residents have been showing up to Town Council meetings to demand that the town address the issue.

"We've been fighting for a new shelter for seven or eight years," Gaulin said. "I can't tell you how bad it is."

Becky Maurice, who runs All Bright Canines, a doggy day care in Montville, said that during that span, the town has done "very little to make the situation better."

"They've failed repeatedly," she said.

State Animal Control Division records confirm that the animal shelter has had numerous violations. An inspection from last year noted there is no potable water and that the "issue has been previously noted and not addressed."

There is also no mechanical ventilation in the building. Gaulin said that because of the lack of heating, the animal shelter uses heat lamps during the winter.

The state inspection noted that the facility has significant structural issues. "The issues with the walls between kennels and the edges of the inside kennel floor are noticeably worse since last inspection. It does not appear that any attempts to repair the issues have been made."

Montville Mayor Leonard Bunnell said there has been a "big improvement in conditions" in terms of the shelter's cleanliness and congestion since last year. However, he said the facility's condition is "still not acceptable."

Bunnell said he wants to fund the construction of a new shelter by a state grant. He said the town needs the grant question decided first before anything else can happen.

Bunnell said he will "not arbitrarily fund (a new shelter) on the backs of taxpayers." If Montville fails to obtain a grant, he said the issue will go to referendum in November.

But Gaulin and Maurice said that if the issue is pushed to a November referendum, that means waiting an entire year more, including the winter with the facility's heating problems.

They also said the town has previously failed to obtain grants for a new shelter.

"We shouldn't have to work so hard to get action," Maurice said.

Gaulin said the group has obtained 1,200 signatures from residents who want to fund a new shelter.

Bunnell said, "Not a day goes by that I don't give this attention." He said he's been working on the issue since his first day in office.

The town is attempting to come to agreements with other area towns to have a joint shelter. So far, Salem has signed on, and there are discussions to bring in others.

The Montville Animal Shelter Community Team will host a Pup Rally on May 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. The event will be a fundraiser to provide resources for the animal shelter's medical fund. More information on the event is available here.