After months of complaints about conditions at Manatee County’s newly expanded Bishop Animal Shelter, county commissioners agreed Tuesday to move forward with plans for permanent shade structures but showed little appetite for spending another $22 million to replace the facility’s prefabricated kennels.
The decision marked a small victory for animal advocates who have repeatedly pressed commissioners to address problems at the shelter, including cramped kennels, inadequate shade, drainage issues and concerns about air conditioning.
But the improvements could still be months away, and a more extensive overhaul appears unlikely anytime soon…