Troy, N.Y. (WNYT) – Eight dogs are staying in a temporary shelter at a public works garage in Troy.

“You can only imagine not having that temporary shelter. Where do you put the dogs? Humane Society has cut us off,” said Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello. “We have great partnerships. We contract with Saratoga County Animal Shelter, other non profits, but that’s for adoption. We needed a place to keep the dogs fed, keep them warm, keep them walking, and keep them healthy.”

Next to the shelter is a big fenced-in field behind the Little League. It’s been cleared out and spruced up so dogs can play and run around.

Dogs come here for about five days or more while the city tries to locate the owner, then they go out to a shelter or foster home.

“We have third party rescues that we deal with and they do the background checks, make sure they’re going to the right homes,” said Troy City Clerk Maria DeBonis.
“We don’t adopt them out from the city of Troy. But we transfer ownership over to the rescues and then they do their due diligence on whoever is going to adopt the dogs.”

As 13 Investigates reported in March, the problem is so bad that some places have been putting stray dogs in jail cells.

The money Troy had budgeted for the humane society was moved last week to hire someone to walk and feed the dogs, and clean the shelter.

Mayor Mantello says this is not a long-term fix. The problem is so widespread, it needs a regional solution, but for now, this is Troy’s safe haven.

“We’re doing pretty good here,” said Troy Animal Control Officer Kevin McDonough. “We stay on top of it. We have people helping us walk them, feeding them and everything else, cleaning up. We’re doing really well. Everything is fitting into place.”

The shelter is not open to the public and it’s not a kennel.

They are taking in donations through the city clerk’s office of food and toys.