Northeast Ohio animal advocates have run out of patience, wondering when Cleveland's new kennel will finally be built?
Kennel volunteers Fred Mowery and Janine Chmielewski told newsnet5.com animal advocates have been waiting for the project to get started for nearly seven years.
However, the 5 million dollar project has been plagued by delays and red tape, the initial site for the project was found to be unsuitable months later.
Mowery believes the city should have approached the project with far more urgency, that animals are suffering at the old facility, and that leaders at city hall need to get their priorities straight.
"You get these wonderful improvements downtown and others special projects, but you don't see that with this," said Mowery. "This is just treating these animals humanely, and it just keeps getting shuffled off again and again and again."
Chmielewski volunteered at the Cleveland Kennel for more than three years, she explained the staff is doing an excellent job, but the facilities are simply substandard.
"It's very archaic and decrepit inside, it's not humane," said Chmielewski. "The dogs ultimately are suffering."
Cleveland Councilman Matt Zone is optimistic the project will finally break ground this fall, and pointed to the new lot for the facility at W. 93 and Lorain.
"We only have one kennel in the city, so we have to get it right, and we need to build this facility as soon as possible," said Zone.
Cleveland Assistant Safety Director Tim Hennessy told newsnet5.com the city is ready to take bids on the new kennel in June.
But animal advocates like Chmielwski said they've read this script before.
"I'll believe it when I see it," said Chmielewski. " I hope that it does get done for the dogs. I mean that's ultimately what it's about."
