Charlotte County commissioner backs Animal Welfare League funding push

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WINK)—A Charlotte County commissioner is speaking out for the first time about the Animal Welfare League's contract negotiations with the county.

The Animal Welfare League sent the county a notice earlier this year saying they'd end their decade-long contract if the county doesn't give them the funds they need to stay afloat. Time is ticking until the Animal Welfare League's contract with the county is up, unless the two can come to an agreement on funding.

The people who run the only no-kill, open-admission shelter in the county say they currently operate on roughly $300,000 a year from the county. However, they say with inflation, a rise in intake and upkeep of the building, AWL will need $1.3 million a year to be able to stay afloat.

The county has only offered around $500,000 per year for funding. District 4 Commissioner Stephen R. Deutsch released a statement this week.

"There is no question that the AWL needs more support from the County, and they've needed it for a long while. I agree with them," Deutsch said. "I've been making that case directly to our County Administration negotiating team, and I'm going to keep making it."

Executive Director Tara Zajas says the doors to the Animal Welfare League will not close. But the opportunity for all animals brought in to have a roof over their heads is slim.

"The animals that are here will still remain here. The animals that the county brings us, I don't know where they'll go," Zajas said. "That's a question you're going to have to ask your county commissioners, because they won't come here. Sadly, I don't know what the answer is for them."

The shelter's next discussion with the county is scheduled for a county workshop on Tuesday, June 16.