BAINBRIDGE, GA (WTXL) - The Bainbridge-Decatur County Humane Society says its shelter is too crowded to take care of its 200 animals every day.
The shelter has a number of needs, including a new van and a new facility. However, with the city and county funding less than half of the shelter's operation costs, the group says coming up with the money to buy these things is difficult.
"We can maintain 200 to 250 animals at any given time," said president Susan Ralph, "and those animals have to be fed, and we have animals that are coming in around the clock, really."
Employees at the shelter say the animal waste gets channeled into a small draining pipe, that clogs often, flooding the floor and giving employees a headache.
"They walk in and they pretty much have dealt with 100 dogs that have relieved themselves during the night," said vice president Deenie Nichols.
The shelter says their van is on its last leg. It's logged more than 200,000 miles, and the tires need to be replaced.
"Some days, the van won't start," said Ralph. "Some days, the air conditioning's not working, and you can't transport a van full of dogs without air conditioning in this climate."
The humane society holds about 15 fundraisers every year to come up with the money needed to keep their place open. There's a 5K race Saturday at the Earle May Boat Basin Nature Trail which will benefit the shelter.
UPDATE: The 5K race raised $5,200 for the humane society -- twice as much money raised last year.
