Glens Falls Vet Pushes for Animal Shelter in Washington County

Veterinarian cites recent animal abuse cases as reason for new public facility

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:18pm

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An extremely blurred and abstracted photograph showing the soft, warm outline of a small dog curled up on a cozy blanket, conveying a sense of comfort and care for rescued animals.A veterinarian's plea for a regional animal shelter highlights the need for improved animal welfare infrastructure in the North Country.Glens Falls Today

A Glens Falls veterinarian, Dr. Kyra Haring, is advocating for Washington County to invest in a new public animal shelter that would serve both Warren and Washington Counties in the North Country region. Haring cited recent cases of animal abuse, including the seizure of 50 animals from a property in Granville, as evidence of the need for a dedicated shelter to care for abused and neglected pets. However, local officials have expressed concerns about the cost of funding such a facility.

Why it matters

The lack of a public animal shelter in the region has led to veterinarians and volunteers having to shoulder the burden of caring for seized animals from abuse and neglect cases. A dedicated shelter could provide more resources and a centralized location to house and rehabilitate these animals, as well as promote pet adoption in the local community.

The details

Dr. Kyra Haring, a veterinarian in Glens Falls, brought one of the seized animals, a 4-month-old pit bull named Winnie, to the Washington County Office Building to make her case for a new animal shelter. Haring said she was tasked with caring for about 50 abused animals that were seized in January from a property in Granville, where the animals had been kept in freezing conditions. Haring proposed building a shelter that would serve both Warren and Washington Counties, estimating it would cost each county around $35-45K per year if bonded over 20 years, or about $30 per household annually.

  • In January 2026, about 50 abused animals were seized from a property in Granville.
  • Dr. Haring brought one of the seized animals, Winnie, to the Washington County Office Building in April 2026 to advocate for the new shelter proposal.

The players

Dr. Kyra Haring

A veterinarian in Glens Falls who is advocating for a new public animal shelter to serve Warren and Washington Counties.

Winnie

A 4-month-old pit bull that was one of about 50 abused animals seized from a property in Granville in January 2026.

Brian Campbell

The Hebron Supervisor and Washington County Board of Supervisors Budget Officer, who expressed concerns about the county's ability to afford funding a new animal shelter.

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What they’re saying

“If they bond this proposal over 20 years, approximately, the counties (Warren and Washington) roughly each would pay about $35-45K a year. Households would pay roughly $30 a year.”

— Dr. Kyra Haring, Veterinarian

“I believe there probably is a need. I'm just not sure government should be funding it.”

— Brian Campbell, Hebron Supervisor and Washington County Board of Supervisors Budget Officer

“I didn't hear what I wanted to hear. What I want to hear is we support this. We're behind you. We will bond this. We will allow this proposal to go through.”

— Dr. Kyra Haring, Veterinarian

“I can't complain about the proposal. It's just, it's something we can't afford right now and I know Warren County, after just losing $1.8M, can't afford it either.”

— Brian Campbell, Hebron Supervisor and Washington County Board of Supervisors Budget Officer

What’s next

The Washington County Board of Supervisors will need to decide whether to approve funding for the proposed animal shelter, which would also require support from Warren County officials.

The takeaway

The lack of a public animal shelter in the North Country region has placed a significant burden on veterinarians and volunteers to care for abused and neglected pets, highlighting the need for a dedicated facility to address this issue. However, local officials are concerned about the financial costs of establishing and operating such a shelter, which may delay or prevent the proposal from moving forward.