By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorFaced with rising numbers of stray animals being put to death, some area volunteers are determined to set up another no-kill animal shelter in Warren County.One of those spearheading the initiative is Bob Dowdle, a trustee with the Village of Innsbrook. Dowdle said there is a real need for another no-kill shelter as the population of Warren County continues to grow. Dowdle said the Village of Innsbrook and Warrenton have a mutual problem with stray animals.“There is nowhere to place them and they end up being put down.” The problem, Dowdle added, was that people just dump dogs.“It’s a growing problem, a growing concern,” Dowdle said. “I hate to see animals put down.”Dowdle hopes to get the cities and towns together and as a group to present a plan to Warren County officials. “There is a need for a no-kill shelter in the area so we are trying to lay groundwork to see if people in Warrenton, Truesdale, Wright City, Foristell, Montgomery City would be interested,” he said.Warren County Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage said the commissioners would be willing to discuss the proposal and look at options. “Of course we’d much sooner have people adopt the animals,” he said. “Though it would be hard to get them all adopted.”Karen Casserly, a Warrenton alderwoman, said she is appalled at the list of animals put down each month at the city animal shelter. “There is a real need for this not only in the city, but countywide,” she said.Chief Greg Houdyshell said the animal control officers who run the city animal shelter do their best to adopt out animals or place them with regional no-kill shelters. “Euthanasia is the last resort,” he said.Houdyshell said the city’s shelter can hold between 12 and 15 dogs. Animals are held at the shelter up to a week.He said that during the period from Jan. 1, 2013, to Nov. 30, 2013, 319 animals passed through the Warrenton shelter. Of those 169 were cats and 150 were dogs. A total of 64 animals (46 cats and 18 dogs) were put down.Houdyshell said the animal control officers work with more than 20 regional shelters, animal rescue organizations and animal protective agencies to place animals that passed through the shelter. The agencies are located in St. Louis County and city, St. Charles County, Warren County and Jefferson County. “Some animals were placed as far away as Wisconsin and Ohio due to the diligence of rescue organizations locating homes for them,” Houdyshell said.One local nonprofit agency, the Animal Welfare Association, created in 2001, continues to find foster homes for homeless animals. Volunteer Toni Williams said that at the moment the organization has about 10 foster families who accept animals. The AWA usually has between 10 and 20 dogs at one time. Last year, she said, the AWA took in between 25 and 30 cats.According to Dowdle, the nearest no-kill shelter is located in south west Warren County near Hermann. That shelter currently has space for 59 dogs. Dowdle said the shelter uses 2,000 pounds of food a month and veterinarian bills run about $15,000 a year.“They charge $150 for a dog,” he said. “They have an adoption program where the dogs are neutered, spayed and receive all shots. Pet owners are required to sign a statement saying if the dog does not work out they can return it to the shelter and they receive their $150 back.”According to Warrenton Mayor Jerry Dyer, the city partnered with the county in the past. “Before my time we tried to partner up with the county and do a co-op and it didn’t work out so well for us,” Dyer said. However, Dyer said he thinks the city of Warrenton would like to be part of the discussion to see what can be done.Effort Under Way to Get No-Kill Shelter