Work continues on low-cost spay/neuter clinic for Mercer County

Apr. 10—By GREG JORDAN

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

PRINCETON — Pet owners are calling already to make appointments at a future low-cost spay/neuter clinic that will help reduce the numbers of homeless dogs and cats that keep filling the Mercer County Animal Shelter.

County Commissioner Gene Buckner, who serves on the low-cost clinic committee, updated his fellow commissioners Tuesday about the clinic's progress.

A barn once used by the Mercer County Humane Society is being renovated to serve as the clinic's first location. Plans call for building a permanent facility on the county animal shelter's former site which is located near the existing shelter.

"The contractor has been working for the past couple of weeks and right now he's working by himself," Buckner said. "He had two people who quit working but he's still moving along. He told me Saturday that he thinks he can he can have it finished by the end of next week."

The work's progress will delay the new clinic's opening, Buckner said

"It's going to push us back a little bit. I thought we could maybe shoot for an opening somewhere in the middle of this month," Buckner said. "But we can't hire anybody until we have the building finished so that we'll know where they're going to be working and what stage they're going to be working."

The electrical and water utilities are now in the building, he said.

Buckner said there had been advertisements in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph for a clinic director.

"I haven't heard anything yet about it. We've had two resumes presented," he said. "We've interviewed both people and one declined to take it and the other is still there."

People wanting to get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered have been calling Buckner already about scheduling appointments.

A public announcement will be made when the new facility is ready to open.

"And we're having phone calls. People are calling me — four or five a week — wanting to get an appointment and get their animal spayed or neutered and I tell them the same story," Buckner said. "We'll advertise when we get open. We'll put it in the paper. And let everybody know that we're open for business and now that's about all I have."

A timeline or date for the opening of the new clinic was not announced by the commissioners Tuesday. meeting.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com