MUNISING — The Alger County Animal Shelter is still working with Alger County to sign a new lease.
On Dec. 7, Alger County Animal Shelter posted on Facebook that Alger County did not renew the shelter’s lease and that the shelter would have to leave its current building.
“This is a very stressful time since the news came suddenly, during negotiations of our lease, and we still have to figure out many things,” Alger County Animal Shelter said on Facebook. “Our number one concern is our animals. We are desperate for housing for our beloved animals immediately.”
Although the lease stated that the shelter would have to leave the building, Alger County Animal Shelter is still working out of the same building and paying for all expenses related. The shelter is a no-kill, no-time-limit shelter and is self-sustained on donations from the community.
“We thank our community for helping keep our mission of a no-kill shelter,” Alger County Animal Shelter said. “In the past three months, we have adopted over 45 animals to great homes.”
On Tuesday, Alger County Animal Shelter provided an update for the community on the current leasing status. The shelter said that the old lease expired in December 2021 and the facility was not presented with a new lease until six months later.
“Within the new lease, the language stated that we would have to give up rights to our animals and the county could make a determination for any animal to be euthanized, immediately, and we could not contest,” Alger County Animal Shelter said on Facebook.
The shelter said on advisement from its attorney, the shelter did not sign the proposed lease due to provisions like these.
“We are working closely with our attorney, and we are still in the process of negotiations,” Alger County Animal Shelter said.
The shelter holds its own 501(c)3 tax exempt charieyt status and Alger County owns the building. The shelter said Alger County has stated that it is going to provide animal control with a five-day holding period to the community.
“The shelter will continue running the shelter as it has in the past,” Alger County Animal Shelter said. “We’ve had a lot of very generous offers and donations within the community which will allow us to continue our operations no matter the situation.”
For more information on Alger County Animal Shelter, visit online at algercountyanimalshelter.com.
Dreyma Beronja can be reached at 906-228-2500 ext. 248. Their email address is dberonj@miningjournal.