
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 9, 1993                   TAG: 9312090206
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A18   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD                                LENGTH: Short

BEDFORD CAN'T ACCEPT MONEY FOR SHELTER

Although an anonymous donor has offered to loan Bedford County $38,000 to help finance a new animal shelter, the county cannot accept the offer, a county official said.

"I don't know if the loan would do the county any good because we don't have the money in the fiscal budget," said Bedford County Attorney Johnny Overstreet.

"If we need to borrow $30,000, we could go to the bank. We're only allowed to borrow money if we can pay it back within the same fiscal year and only if there's a revenue shortfall."

Moneta dog groomer Nancy Johnson has been orchestrating a movement to build a new animal shelter to replace the aging facility just outside the Bedford city limits on Link Road. She's lined up the donor, who wants to see construction begin as soon as possible.

The county agrees that a new shelter is needed, but the Board of Supervisors rejected all nine construction bids last month when the lowest bid came in $38,000 higher than had been alloted. The budget provided funds of $176,457.

A new shelter could house 80 dogs, 25 puppies and 25 cats - four times the capacity of the current building. It will be built on a hill next door.

by CNB