Jackson City Council approves animal shelter

JACKSON, Tenn. — The Jackson City Council approves funding to build a new animal shelter, owned and operated by the city. The shelter will take on a new title, City of Jackson Animal Care Center.

“I did approach the city about this approximately four years ago. It’s been a long time in the making, but I’ve always said you can judge a city by the way it treats its animals, and we’re finally here,” said Kim Caldwell, director of the Jackson-Madison County Humane Society.

Wednesday morning, the council approved a no-kill facility that could potentially hold more than 200 animals at a time.

“It’s going to be an intake building, so all the animals picked up or surrendered in the city of Jackson will go to this intake building. It will be a no-kill facility,” Caldwell said.

Construction will begin by the Humane Society’s current property and could begin as early as this fall. It will cost the city around $220,000 in yearly operational costs.

Caldwell said the Jackson-Madison County 501C3 will be in operation to cover veterinarian expenses, food and hopefully a spay/neuter program.

All paid employees at the shelter will be city employees and receive city benefits.