"Sticker Shock", now that's a good one! I got check stub shock when I got my first paycheck of the year, more taxes, with more on the way from Beacon Hill. Keep borrowing money Attleboro and wait till next year to tell the public that property tax is going way up. Whatever it takes to make the volunteers happy.

Please, City Council, please! You need some common sense here and give the construction for the shelter a reasonable budget. Do not give the builder and planner a blank check to create whatever they deem "necessary".

I support a new shelter, but the cost NEEDS to be managed and reduced. Attleboro can not afford 1.1. million.

Can anyone answer a few questions? On average, how many animals does the shelter hold per year? How long do they stay in the shelter on average? What is the "placement rate"? How many animals are "lifers" with very specific homing needs?
I want the raw numbers on how many animals we will be supporting by building this shelter. I also want to know if there are any creative building alternatives that could be used to comply with prevailing wage but significantly reduce cost. such as :
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1800recycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/11container2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://1800recycling.com/2010/07/recycled-shipping-container-buildings/&h=768&w=1024&sz=404&tbnid=Oet8MkkEz3vCpM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=121&zoom=1&usg=__A0GNXo3RHGGvvbdFMLlgtLI1LnY=&docid=q39M_-QhlSOXgM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6oz6UKDOD-nC0QH3-oCoDw&sqi=2&ved=0CFIQ9QEwAg&dur=2375

Mr. Glass, you are right. Who decides if the city is going to house a pit bull for the rest of its life? Why are Attleboro & Seekonk not going half on this shelter? From what I know about construction these plans have plenty of room for more cost overruns.

Again, look at your abandon, existing structures first, then research the cost of an animal shelter that is within the city's budget. To do so otherwise is fiscally irresponsible.

The legislature and the governor should exempt certain smaller municipal projects from the 'prevailing wage' laws. Projects under $5 Million say should be exempt and municipalities should be able to competitively bid these. It is a reasonable exemption from these laws.

The city of Attleboro should be ashamed of the current shelter. If you hAve ever stepped foot into the shelter you know whAt i meAn. The all volunteer stAff is the most cAring and dedicAted group of people i hAve ever hAd the pleAsure of knowing. The work they do under their current conditions is nothing short of a miracle, and their love and support for these animAls is absolutely priceless. Attleboro deserves a shelter it can be proud of and the animAls of attleboro deserve their temporary home be As comfortAble and heAlthy as possible. You cAnnot put a price tAg on unconditionAl love.............

Another question to put before the Council...will our taxes go down once the current loan is done with? It is a claim that our taxes won't go up because of a few that are about to be paid off. So if we don't spend more than 1 million dollars for this upscale shelter, then logically our taxes should go down? I would think that this being an election year, that the politicians would do all that they can to bring our taxes down...not at the level they currently are. I do hope that someone has the guts to answer George on the length of time an animal is "boarded" at the shelter and what ti cost per day for an animal to be there. Also, why is it that some of these animals are "resuced" from Pawtucket - cats were last year. Why are we taking in other cities and states sick animals? Where does it stop? I say that there is a price for unconditional love and if these advocates of the shelter want to save them all, then do it at their home with their money. But I guess if that happened, we would then be paying for the volunteers million dollar homes to put these poor displace in.

1.1 million dollars is too much money to spend on a shelter. I hope the city council wakes up and puts a stop to this. My check is smaller and now my property tax have the potential to increase. Keep in mind, if you make people pay for 1.1 million dollar sticker price you may not be reelected the next time around.

The plans were posted on the Patch...would someone suggest where the cuts should take place?

Perhaps the 'play' room and laundry/food prep areas.

Why can't we finance the supplies and volunteer builders erect the structure/

Paul, while I respect your opinion and do believe that alternative solutions can and should be looked at, I cannot help and comment on the fact that you have mentioned multiple lies that have no backing in your posts. You mentioned the fact that people have been called 'animal killers' and then you also mentioned - "No one would dare speak out against the animal retirement mansion for fear of having a dead carcass tossed onto their property and be called animal hater forever by the permanent volunteer animal shelter squatters" - and someone actually asked you to respond if this has actually happened and if you are speaking out of experience or just making false accusations? I have no issue people speaking their opinions, but when you mention things like that and have not backed them with actual experiences and/or facts, I question the credibility of your statements and if they are truly emotionally charged. Since most people feel so strongly about this topic, why were none you of you there at the public meeting? Have you expressed these opinions to your councilmen?

Paul, not only is the city council afraid of upsetting the "volunteers" but other people are also afraid of upsetting these do gooders. They are a very intimidating bunch of people who think nothing of spending the tax payers money. They keep many of these animals that cannot be adopted out because of behavior issues for months into years. Ask them how much it cost to keep these dogs for such a long time. The city has to pay for the vet bills, shots, spay/neuturing, micro-chip, etc. then feed and house them for as long as the volunteers want to keep them. A few of these dogs have been sent to facilities to fix their aggressive behavior only to be returned to the shelter then back to the same facility again and again. It is obvious that no one really wants these dogs so they just stay and stay and stay at our costs. Attleboro is known to shelter pit bull dogs and it seems that in the shelter all that is there with a few exceptions are pit bulls and cats. I thought Attleboro did not does not have a budget for taking care of cats - I've been told more than once by an ACO not to mention that they took a stray cat as they would get in trouble. So are the cats now in the animal control budget? If not, why are they building a shelter with a "cat room?' I would love to get an answer as to costs, but I know it will never happen. It would show too many people just how much money is being wasted on these unadoptable dogs.

Actually James, there is a fixed budget for animals in the shelter (as seen in the Attleboro yearly budget) and it does not include cats. There is a volunteer organization that helps out the shelter and has yearly fundraisers that pay for vet bills, food, training, for these animals. I am someone that does follow the Animal Shelter, and actually the dog you are talking about Moby, was sent to training based on funds raised by the group (it was in the newspaper). So the training and care for cats and some dogs are not paid by the tax payers of Attleboro.

James, they want to save every animal. I know many nice people that are the same way, but they do it on their own, with their own money. I know several people that tell me all the time, "they get along with animals better than people", I understand, I get it. These shelter volunteers don't care about taxpaying citizens, only dogs. They do not want to hear about anything except when their new shelter will be finished. I hope someone on the city council has the courage to put these volunteers on a short leash. They should in no way ever, get in the way of everyday operations at the shelter and that includes putting down pitbulls, dingos, wolfs and hyena.

James, I understand your frustration and I think the best thing is to maybe speak to the shelter or town council itself and get all of your answers. I can speak for some things I do know - the volunteers do foster the cats and dogs on their own. Many of the dogs that are up for adoption are fostered by the volunteers that are involved. Also, I am speaking from experience, I have attended some of their fundraisers and they do have a campaign that directly raises money for a new shelter - it is separate from the fundraising done for the costs of animal care. In regards to the animal training, the dogs go through training not because they are 'bad' dogs or aggressive as you put it, but because they just need to be taught the basic manners of being a dog since most are picked up as strays or surrendered. Again, I do follow their public facebook page and they raise money for this training and also raise money for the animals such as vet costs, surgeries, and specialized tests (in addition to raise money for a new shelter). Again, I do understand where you are coming from and I am only posting to get some of the information out that I know about the shelter and the volunteer organization behind it. I read some of these posts and just would like to inform you that the organization does have it own fundraising and they do foster the animals on their own.

Paul - again, many of the people at the shelter do donate their own time, money, and open their house to help with the care of these animals.

Paul, all I ask is this, you seem very passionate about this topic - please do some research on the actual costs and the fundraising that is done by the volunteers that isn’t paid by the taxpayers and maybe voice your opinion at meetings or write to the councilmen instead of just posting on sites. And you ask everyone to tell you like it is - which people have been posting facts, etc. - I ask you to do the same! Like I asked you to respond to your comment on if you speak up someone will throw a dead animal on your yard? It’s odd how you mention things like this, but have not backed it up and 'told it like it is'. Numerous people have asked you to respond and give an example, and yet you have completely ignored them and keep posting.

There are many skilled individuals that live in this city who may want to devote their time, and trade for less. Has anyone pursued this option? How did Pawt. animal shelter raise their funds? Their shelter puts ours to shame.

Reason - You just might have it wrong! Without them trying to save every pit bull that comes along then the ACO would be able to do their job!! These volunteers are just like a pack of wild dogs themselves. Let anyone of them hear you speaking against a "lovable" pit bull then they will circle you and tell you just how wrong you are and that you need to be "educated" on the merits of a pit bull. And I speak from experience on this one - so don't try and tell me otherwise. These shelter people are just a vicous as the breeds they defend. And don't tell me to come to a council meeting and speak up then I would surely be attacked by these so called good people day in and day out. I totally understand why so many people don't speak up in public but rather here to voice an opinion. I no longer attend public places where I know that this shelter is bringing one of it's dogs to parade around. I don't think that they should be allowed to traipse these dogs to public places unless they are willing to take the liability when someone is bitten. They may have signed a waiver when the chose to volunteer at the shelter, but I did not sign a waiver that I would not sue the city if one of the shelter dogs bit me at either LaSallet or the mall or other public places. Believe me, if I was bitten by one of the shelter dogs while at at public facility and having not signed any waiver, I WOULD go after the city big time. You want to save them - then keep them at the "new" shelter.

Paul, as I said before, I don’t have all the answers, I never claimed I did. But, I did attend the town hall meeting the other night and have asked the appropriate people some questions I had. That is all I am saying is, people have very strong opinions, but don't always voice them in the correct forum. Plus, people do have good ideas on alternatives, but have they brought them up other than on Patch?

Ahh James, the truth comes out..... This is where I will be ending this conversation on my end. It is not worth it for me or anyone to try to give facts since you will be stuck in your ways and closed minded. There is a great deal of literature and studies out there that show bite records by breed that will prove your theories completely wrong.

I have been to many council meetings on various topics (not just the animal shelter) and I have never seen anyone (even me) get personally attacked while voicing their opinion to the council. If there was an incident, it was not at those meetings I have attended.

I find it interesting AR, There was a man (Steve Hopkins) who spoke "neither for nor against' the animal shelter and voice similar concerns as stated here. I bumped into an acquaintance that is a shelter volunteer and the first thing that was said was "could you believe that guy? He has no idea what he is talking about..." I give Steve MAJOR credit for manning up and voicing his concerns!

Now I can only imagine that you will say.."Why didn't you speak up?" The answer is simple. I didn't want to become public enemy #1.

George, I give Steve major credit also, I really do. But that is just one person that mentioned that after the meeting, not everyone thinks that. Was he verbally attacked while speaking? Was he verbally attacked after speaking? All I am trying to get the point across is that there needs to be more people like Steve that do stand up for what they believe in and not just post here. There are many other options of doing that, like writing letters to your councilmen and congressmen, etc. That is my point, I do understand that some people dont want to stand up at a meeting like that, but we elect these officials for a reason and people need to express their concerns if they dont like something. That is the only way something will be done.

Hi George. I appreciate the fact that you have contacted the councilmen and did express your opinions. I truly respect that and believe that more people (not even in this city but country) should do the same. Also, thanks for the kind words. I do support the animal shelter and speak from my own experience with dogs (especially pit bulls). I also do respect everyone's opinions and views and just try my best to inform them of the facts that I do know. I know you mention the some of the comments have been aggressive on this thread and others regarding the new animal shelter, I do feel those have come from both sides. I just wish there weren’t attacks on people’s characters because once that happens, then the debate is over and it gets personal.

http://www.cityofattleboro.us/pdf/cip1317.pdf

Here's a refresher that an animal shelter has been in the capital improvement plan for almost a year.

Just read it and here is a copy of what was taken from this article:
Animal Control - Design and Construction of a New Animal Shelter $600,000.00
Does it say 1 million? Didn't think so. No wonder people are so upset at a million dollar price tag. Next, they will be saying that because the new shelter is so BIG that they need for the city to provide more help. Next thing we know the volunteers will be on the city payroll and get all of the benefits too. Where will it end?

Hey FB folks. Read this where on June 1, 2012 The Mayor includes a new animal shelter in his budget. http://www.cityofattleboro.us/citycouncil/meetings/pdf/min06012012.pdf .........cost to be determined. Why are you just paying attention to this now?

June 5, 2012 $50,000 to pay for animal shelter design.

http://www.cityofattleboro.us/citycouncil/meetings/pdf/min06052012.pdf

Attention - I saw the missing 1 yr old golden retriever at my house on Oak Hill Ave. Tracks seem to lead into the woods towards Ritchie Rd. It was a rescue thru out shelter I believe, just recently adopted. I saw it at about 6:30 on my back deck. It scooted away when I stood up. Tried to track it but lost trail in woods behind my house -

If you know anyone on Richie Rd give them a call to look out for it.

Here it is...August. Cost of about $1 million.
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/attleboro/planning-begins-for-new-attleboro-animal-shelter/article_60e54d8e-d6e2-51f4-b8b0-52cff1e0d566.html

Building Commission Meeting are posted and open to the public. Why didn't all you naysayers go then?

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/vip/news/local_news/new-animal-shelter-to-cost-city-million/article_409d1ce2-43e5-5fb4-a865-6dc5929bdd85.html

Don't you folks read?

And last but not least

http://attleboro.patch.com/articles/animal-shelter-cost-to-exceed-1-million

Gee. Kirby attempting to "was trying to form a voting bloc to reject Mayor Kevin Dumas' proposal for the city to seek a $1.16 million loan to fund the construction of a 3,600-square-foot facility. "
Isn't that a violation of the open meeting law.

Only one solution: a new tax on dog food!
"Those who bark must pay for the park!"

There is $800,000. of debt service being retired this year. That's a loan of more than $10,000,000. These three projects if bonded for 12 years will total approximately less than $700,000. in debt service at current rates. However, rates may change within the time it takes to go to bond. Still, it's predicted that it will not be as high as the debt being retired. No increase in taxes due to THESE three projects. Taxes will always go up within the prop 2 1/2 % allowed.