Detroit Council Approves New Animal Shelter

DETROIT (WWJ) - The Michigan Humane Society in Detroit can move forward with plans to build a new animal shelter on Detroit's north end, hoping to combat the city's ongoing stray dog problem.

Detroit City Council voted on Tuesday to approve zoning changes to four acres of property, just north of the current location along the Chrysler Service Drive.

Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins admits stray dogs are a real and ongoing issue in the city.

"It's my understanding that this new shelter will be where they house their animals," said Jenkins. "It will be better built, better circulation, they can house more animals.  One of the things I was told they're trying to do is retrain animals that have been subjected to things like dog fights."

Earlier this year, a video went viral on YouTube that highlights Detroit's continuing problem with stray dogs.  The video has received tens of thousands of views.

Jenkins hopes the city can strengthen its partnership with the Human Society once the new shelter is built.

"The people at animal control who work for the city work hard, but we don't have enough resources and we don't have enough people," said Jenkins.

The new shelter is going to be built on property purchased from the Detroit Public Schools with nearly a million dollars given by Thomas A. Mackey.