PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A push for changes at the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control facility.
During the summer months, temperatures went up. Animals were exhausted and in distress due to a lack of cool airflow. Some in the community vented their feelings about the animals.
In early August, our radar gun showed temperatures inside some cages felt as hot as 91 degrees, despite several oscillating fans inside each kennel.
Three weeks later, Animal Care and Control installed portable HVAC units. We found temperatures in some cages were much cooler, the lowest 79 degrees.
Director Dianne Sauve said, "We offered two upgrades which included permanent air conditioning installed into the kennel areas. And an additional building for isolation for sick or injured animals."
The goal now is finding a permanent solution.
Today, ACC presented a 21 million dollar renovation project to county commissioners.
"They wanted us to go back and look at options to build an entirely new facility."
Animal Care and Control will now come up with a proposed plan for a new facility on the existing property. It could take about six months.
Commissioner Melissa McKinlay supports the change.
"Have received in the last few weeks, numerous complaints both on social media and in my emails just about the conditions of the facility in general. And there are concerns that we are spending a lot of money and we don't seem to be getting much for that money, so I can think we can do something better," she said.
