Lexington City Leaders Agree to Work With Community Over Animal Shelter Issues

 Members of the Lexington community demanded answers about the community’s animal shelter. A former employee shared videos of hazardous conditions inside the shelter. Lexington council members and city leaders held a discussion at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.  

Plenty of people in this community want to see changes with the Lexington Animal Shelter. City leaders said they are interested in improving the shelter, but they say it takes time. Animal lovers in Lexington say enough is enough, and people like Becca Bean want change inside this Lexington property.  

“The animals and the people of Lexington deserve better,” Bean said. “There’s just literally no excuse for it. We feel really helpless at this point." The facility is not the concern for Bean, it’s what lives inside. 

“It’s really hard to imagine the level of neglect that’s been able to go on there,” Bean said. “Some of these dogs have been languishing in the shelter for weeks and months.” 

Back in September Brian Ozment sent News 9 videos of the conditions inside. The former animal shelter employee recalled the conditions inside.

“Nothing but animal cruelty,” Ozment said, in a previous story with News 9. “They tell you they’re gonna fix it, but it never gets fixed.” 

Bobbie Wallis said she’s seen these dogs, “There’s one [dog] in particular, what she has got on her is from her sitting in her own urine,” Wallis said. 

Vice Mayor Mike Donovan said the city wants to come up with solutions, but there’s a process, “The city evaluates some of the things they’re doing, and we move forward."

“A dog is the most unconditional love you’ll ever experience in your life,” Paula Stanford suggested an advisory council to help manage the shelter.  

“So, if at all possible, getting these animals into a location that is cleaner and safer and nice for them,” Stanford said. This community’s love for these animals inspired a conversation. 

“This is a matter that affects the whole community,” Bean said. 

One council member said they will work on better communication on how the community can help the shelter. The council agreed to work with members on possible improvements in the future.