$96,000 animal control facility is up and running

By Carrie A. Mizell

County officials, volunteers and local citizens gathered last week to tour Gilchrist County’s new animal control facility, which is east of Bell.

According to Animal Rescue Friends (ARP), 135 area businesses and individuals donated funds to meet the budget needs for this facility.
Officially the $96,000 facility opened on October 1, which was the first day of the new fiscal year. With 720 square feet of office space, 32 pens that provide an area that is 1,920 square feet total, a treatment room and a climate controlled area for cats, the facility is state of the art.
According to Gilchrist County Administrator, Ron McQueen the facility is currently housing 40 animals, but has the capacity for over 100. The county has one full time animal control officer and one part time officer, McQueen explained.