By Richard Caines

SALISBURY — The Humane Society of Wicomico County is looking to move away from its current facility on county-owned property to a site less than a mile away off Goldman Lane.

The proposed site just south of the airport was the former home of a drill academy consisting of three buildings but has since been razed, leaving only exterior lights and a surrounding fence.

Executive Director Kim Nock told Wicomico County Council during a recent work session that they are requesting the former drill site be deemed surplus property and deeded over to the Humane Society. In turn, the Humane Society would turn its current building over to the county.

Nock told county officials in an April letter that a new facility would help with the Humane Society’s mission of providing the best possible care for the animals that come to them from Wicomico County and would also give them needed additional space due to an increasing number of animals they serve.

She noted in her letter that the Citation Drive facility was originally designed to be a kill shelter, but that is not how they operate, increasing their live release rate of animals from 67 percent to 90 percent in the past five years.

Nock said a new facility would allow them to ensure the animals go to loving homes in the best condition.

There were questions from County Council members during the May 21 work session surrounding the Goldman Lane property, particularly whether it would be leased or gifted outright.

“When we had originally met with the County Executive, they were kind of learning toward us doing a long-term lease,” Nock said. “That’s the same situation that we are in now.”

Nock told the council that the new facility would cost more, between $5 million and $7 million, compared to their current facility roughly valued at $800,000. She said the Humane Society feels that it doesn’t make good fiscal sense to construct a building on a piece of land they don’t own.

“We think that would cause problems with fundraising,” Nock said. “I don’t think the people would want to donate a $1 million to us, knowing that in 50 years, it would be up in the air as to whether or not we would still own the building.”

Councilman Joe Holloway said he believes the plan is a great idea but brought up concerns centering on a key service the organization provides for the county.

“I know you need a new facility and all that, but whether we lease it or gift it, I would like to see us some kind of way to protect ourselves that we have animal control for the county without us having to go out and contract or go into the animal control business ourself because you are better to handle it than we are,” Holloway said.

Nock said they have put “great thought” into the animal control portion of the proposed building because she feels in the current facility, the public doesn’t have a place to go when they have an animal control issue.

“I mean they are walking into our lobby and then having to (maneuver) through our back hallways to get to basically a closet with two animal control desks in it, and I think that should be a place where the community can come if they have a problem and sit down in an office and speak to an animal control officer without being a part of the shelter aspect of it,” Nock said.

Director of Administration Bunky Luffman told the council that when the County Executive office met with the Humane Society, they also discussed other protections including if they don’t break ground in an agreed number of years, the land would revert back to the county. Additionally, if the Humane Society decides to sell the building in the future, the county could get the first right of refusal.

County Council President John Cannon commended Nock for the work the Humane Society is doing in the county and their advocacy for animals.

“I think it’s the least the county can do is to try to arrange for any type of amicable relationship where we can help you guys out,” Cannon said. “I mean, the amount of time that you spend just on your own is incredible and it is such a benefit to the county.

“So, to me, this is a drop in the bucket to make this happen. Whatever you think is going to work for you, I’m on board with that one hundred percent.”

Reach Managing Editor Richard Caines at rcaines@iniusa.org.