CLEARFIELD – On Tuesday a partnership was discussed that could lead to the Clearfield County SPCA to a new home.
Beth Hallstrom and Sherry Triythall discussed the idea with Clearfield County Commissioners John Sobel and Mark McCracken at the commissioners’ work session. Halstrom said they would like to build a specialized shelter on five acres of county property adjacent to the Clearfield County Jail.
The building would contain a room for cats, runs for dogs, offices for animal control officers, an area for exotic pets and a multi-purpose room.
“We would like to make this a hub for the animal community,” Hallstrom added.
Halstrom said the proximity of shelter could serve both the shelter and inmates eligible for the work release program.
“It will be doubly therapeutic,” said Hallstrom.
She said the idea the original idea was Harry Fred Bigler’s. She said they were representing the idea. Halsrom said they have the support of Clearfield County President Judge Fredric Ammerman, Sheriff Chester Hawkins and CCJ Warden Sam Lombardo.
“Now we’re down to the mechanics,” added Hallstrom.
Sobel, who as a commissioner also sits on the county’s prison board, noted that the number of work release inmates has declined. He pointed to younger, unskilled inmates as well as a slow economy as culprits. Sobel said there are jobs out there but that the inmates don’t have the skills. McCracken said another hurdle has been the transport of the prisoners. He said if the SPCA complex is near the jail, transportation will not be an issue.
Another topic briefly discussed was how the property would come under the SPCA. Sobel brought up either a lease or donation.
“I think ideally we’d look at a long-term lease,” said McCracken. The commissioners said they would have the county solicitor explore the options and put something together.
Hallstrom said the project is currently in funding stages.
Both McCracken and Hallstrom stressed that the SPCA is not a county government program.
