MANSFIELD — It may be a cooler summer next year for canines at the Richland County Dog Warden & Adoption Center.
County Dog Warden Missy Houghton spoke to county commissioners on Thursday about the possibility of installing central air conditioning into the kennel area that houses canines at the 810 N. Home Road shelter.
She said an engineer was looking at the shelter now to determine what it may cost.
“We’re using window units now and that’s not very efficient,” Houghton said. “With the amount of dogs that we have, it gets really hot in there. So the hope is that can be installed before we need to start using it.”
Commissioners, who anticipate finishing 2024 with budget surplus of more than $8 million, seemed receptive to the idea.
No cost amounts were divulged during the discussion, which came during a quarterly department meeting with commissioners.
“That would be a big deal,” Commissioner Tony Vero said. “The goal is to have it ready next year before the hot season.
“We think the public would like that. It would be an excellent thing. We don’t think it will be as expensive as we initially thought, but we will wait and see.”
Houghton said central air conditioning would improve the quality of life for dogs at the kennel — which may then make them more adoptable.
“I know I get really cranky when I am hot,” the dog warden said with a laugh.
“They are uncomfortable. They are on edge. And they don’t show well (to the public) because they’re just lethargic. Any time an animal is comfortable, they show better,” Houghton said.
Vero said commissioners will wait for the engineer’s estimate before discussing the cost of the air conditioning system.
“We have a number in mind, but we’re just not comfortable saying it until the engineer takes a look at it,” he said.
If commissioners proceed, the money would come from the county’s capital funds, Vero said.
It would be another in a series of recent physical improvements at the dog shelter, including revamped adoption rooms, replacement of aging kennels and sound baffles to reduce noise in the kennel room itself.
“You can actually talk in there now without screaming, which is fantastic,” Houghton said.
