Advocates Want Air Conditioning At Wallingford Animal Shelter

WALLINGFORD, CT — With temperatures soaring amid the latest heat wave to hit Connecticut, animal advocates are pleading with Wallingford Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. to install air conditioning at the kennels in the town’s animal control office.

The Record-Journal reported the issue was discussed late into the evening/early morning during a recent lengthy Town Council meeting. Councilor Gina Morgenstein described the situation as “inhumane” while fellow Democratic Councilor Vincent Testa spoke at length about the lack of air conditioning with the summer heat approaching, according to the Record-Journal.

Dickinson said during the meeting that he didn’t believe there has ever been air conditioning in the kennel area and wasn’t sure why it was a necessity while people in town don’t have air conditioning, the Record-Journal reported.

WTNH News 8 reports Wallingford has more than $700,000 in a Dog Pound Trust Fund that was donated to the town for improvements and repairs. Testa has questioned why the air conditioning hasn’t already been installed.

Dickinson, who has been mayor since 1984, told WTNH News 8 that this was the first time the issue has been raised with him and said it will take time to go through the proper reviews and recommendations to get the new system installed.

Dickinson also said he is in the process of hiring a new head animal control officer who can look at what improvements need to be made, according to WTNH News 8.

Read more at the Record-Journal here and WTNH News 8 here.

The animals did get a special treat to help them beat the heat when someone donated cartons of vanilla ice cream to the shelter, according to a post on the animal control’s Facebook page.