County asked to consider land sale for animal shelter

CAIRO―The Greene County Animal Alliance was back in front of county lawmakers this week in hopes of securing a piece of county-owned land to build a no-kill shelter.

The nonprofit GCAA has approached the legislature twice previously seeking a donation of property, but this time they came with a cash offer.

“Our mission is still the same: to build a companion animal shelter in Greene County,” GCAA Board Member Mark Gorelick told legislators during a committee meeting Wednesday night.

“We would like to pay $75,000 for a five-acre site,” offered Gorelick.

The land they are eyeing is part of a 16.85-acre vacant lot between Main Street and Route 84 in Cairo that was purchased by Greene County for $475,000 in 2024.

At the time, the plan was to construct new offices to house the Mental Health Department, Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Veterans Services. But the scope of the project has since been downsized with the latter two agencies moved to the former Marshall & Sterling insurance building in Leeds which was acquired by Greene County last year.

At the Cairo property, site work has already started with 5.5 acres of the total lot expected to be disturbed.

“Which leaves a bunch of property open,” said Gorelick. “Five acres would allow us to build a facility there.”

Gorelick acknowledged that $75,000 would be less than the approximately $28,000 per acre that Greene County paid for the land. But he said, “It’s not nothing. It is a lot for us.”

“It is the amount of money we have been offering to other private individuals for their property. Unfortunately, most individuals are looking for pretty much 10 times that amount,” Gorelick said.

Since 2023, the GCAA has been raising money through donations, fundraising events, private grants, and some 50 cash boxes across the county.

“We have raised well over $100,000 in the time we’ve been collecting, but we need the property to really advance,” he said.

Greene County Legislative Chairman Patrick Linger said Thursday that the GCAA’s request is based on the assumption that any of the land not being built on is surplus.

“I'm not convinced of that just yet and there is a second entity that also has interest. There's also an additional building being considered. Either way, I'm not inclined to sell any of that property for less than taxpayers paid for it,” he said.

“I would gladly advocate giving them land near our Cairo solar field [behind the Emergency Services Building],” Linger added. “But we found out this year the bridge accessing that property needs repair first.”

Part of the GCAA’s 2026-2029 strategic plan is to prepare for an estimated $4 million capital campaign. The timeline includes securing land in 2026 with the goal of opening the shelter in 2028.

Greene County did have its own animal shelter at one time. The Athens Division of the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, located on State Route 385, closed in 1998 after 31 years due to financial constraints. Since then, the Hudson facility has served both counties.

And while there are government grants available for animal shelters, the GCAA cannot even apply unless they have a site, Gorelick has explained.

“No one is going to fund a dream,” Gorelick said. “But they will fund renovation, site prep and building if you have the property. And that has been our stumbling block.”