Collins howls over dog pound location

David Josar / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Plans to build a state-of-the-art dog pound have hit a snag after Councilwoman Barbara-Rose Collins said she doesn't want the facility in her neighborhood.

"This is just taking advantage of poor people," said Collins, who lives in the 2200 block of Leland, less than a half-mile from where the city Health and Wellness Promotion Department wants the pound built.

Too often, city leaders advocate putting projects in parts of the city where they think no one will complain, Collins said, but a facility for stray dogs, cats and other animals could bring problems with odors and noise.

"I want the mayor's office to find another place," she said.

Before the City Council went on its summer recess Friday, members were expected to sign off on a plan that would build a $3.6 million animal control facility near Mack and Dequindre to replace the aging, beleaguered complex in southwest Detroit near the Ambassador Bridge.

However, a single City Council member can delay a vote, as Collins did. By tradition, the council allows individual members to question city officials on issues before forcing a vote.

Animal rights activists say a new facility is long overdue.

"Everyone will tell you those animals need a better place," said Carol Rouzer, who adopted a puppy, Rascal, from Detroit Animal Control in May. "There is no reason not to build if they already have the money. Keep politics out of animal welfare."

Members of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's staff said they expect to reach a compromise after the council returns from its recess.

The delay upsets Marvin Cotton, 79, who lives on St. Aubin, close to the proposed pound.

"Right now, all we have is vacant land, and I know the city has a problem with dogs," said Cotton, a retired U.S. Postal Service employee. "I'd rather have a new city building than more vacant land that people use as a dumping ground."

But Ebony Peoples, 23, who lives with her mother and two children on Chene, also nearby, sides with Collins.

A dog pound would bring increased traffic and the possibility of other dangers, she said.

"This may not be the richest neighborhood but at least there isn't much traffic. My children can play outside," said Peoples, who is studying to be a medical records clerk. "What would happen if one of those dogs got loose? Who would protect my babies?"

In 2002, voters approved a bond issue for a new animal control facility, and earlier this year the Detroit Building Authority, which would build the pound, approved the project and hired an architect.

Meanwhile, Bruce King, the health department assistant director in charge of the project, said the proposed site, which would occupy land the city owns, is ideal because it is easily accessible from Interstate 75 and is centrally located.

The current animal control facility is in an inaccessible location in an industrial strip of land. The location is one reason city officials believe few animals are adopted: People have a hard time getting there.

In November, a Detroit News review of state and court records found a number of problems at the animal control facility, including piles of dead dogs in the building, animals that were underfed and lack of medical care.

In addition, two years ago a city worker was fired after she fed live shelter puppies to a python, but she was later rehired under civil service rules.

City officials say many of those problems could be eliminated with a new facility.

"We're going to continue on with the process," said Matt Allen, a spokesman for Kilpatrick.

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