They have the money, a plan and a construction site, now they need the blessing of Monroe County. Thursday Gina Mason and two other representatives of the Animal Shelter Construction Fund (ASCF), Nancy Reidy and Sharel Martin, appeared before the county’s Animal Shelter Sub-Committee to offer a proposal to deal with homeless cats and dogs.

Mason said, “We’re ready to go.”

The proposal calls for the construction of a 3,564 square-foot shelter on land in the city of Sparta, on Sherry Lynn Ln. north of the Best Western motel, not far from Monroe County’s present animal shelter. The estimated cost of the shelter is $500,000 and ASCF has raised $400,000 over the past eight years. An agreement between the organization and the county sets operation procedures for the shelter and how costs will be covered.

The new shelter will have exterior dog runs, interior kennels, a separate cat common room and kennels, areas for puppies, isolation, a veterinary care area, plus areas designated for food preparation, grooming and an office. There will be public viewing areas for both cats and dogs.

Details of the arrangement need to be worked out, and the sub-committee is planning to meet again Feb. 16.

Under the agreement, the ASCF group organized as a humane society and will collect $125 from the county for each unredeemed dog. The county would collect dog license fees, earmarking the funds for the expenses of the humane officer.

Rick Irwin, county board chair, referring to the proposal, said, “ Seems like (the proposal) benefits the county as well as the society.”

County Administrator Catherine Schmit said that the humane organization could solicit donations to cover expenses, something that the county can’t do.

The present shelter is 768 square feet. It was constructed in 1972. It accepts only dogs and is extremely undersized according to information furnished to the committee by ASCF. There are seven indoor/outdoor dog runs, four indoor crates and three puppy cages; dog pens are cramped, there are no isolation and quarantine areas, and ventilation, heating and cooling systems are inadequate.