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Animal shelter's floor deteriorating after 3 years

The floor at Animal Friend Humane Society in Hamilton has began to flake away. Officials have been battling installers, makers of the materials and contractors to get it fixed. The county prosecutor's office and commissioners have agree to bid out replacement of the floor.

Staff photo by Gary Stelzer The floor at Animal Friend Humane Society in Hamilton has began to flake away. Officials have been battling installers, makers of the materials and contractors to get it fixed. The county prosecutor's office and commissioners have agree to bid out replacement of the floor.

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer 7:47 PM Saturday, January 21, 2012

Less than three years after moving into a new building, the floor of the Animal Friends Humane Society is deteriorating.

Cracks, flakes and a green substance, suspected to be mold, popped up eight months after employees and animals moved into the Princeton Road facility, which was built with county taxpayers’ money.

After months of discussions with the manufactures of the polymer material in the kennels and the company who installed it, Butler County has advertised for proposals to repair or replace the floor.

The cost could be up to $100,000. The Butler County Prosecutor’s Office is conducting an investigation into the situation.

“We are reviewing this to determine any responsibility by the manufacturer and or the installer for the problems we are having with the kennel floor,” Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said.

Last week, Meg Stephenson, humane society executive director, showed six flooring experts interested in the repair project the problems with the flaky floor.

“Some were take aback,” she said.

Stephenson said the floor, with chunks missing and visable sheets ready to peel off daily, has been a thorn in her side and a worry for years.

“It is not a good situation in so many ways,” Stephenson said. “It is a safety hazard to the health and cleanliness of our animals.”

Large cracks and chucks are also apparent to those visiting the kennel built for $3.7 million raised from a tax levy.

Routine surgery performed on a dog at the facility showed pieces of the floor in the dogs intestines.

“So we know the dogs are ingesting it,” she said.

Stephenson said Penquin Painters, installers of the flooring, did return to make repairs after being informed of the defects. The material that was reapplied has also failed.

What has happened since is a bit of finger pointing. Installers say it was the material; manufactures say it wasn’t applied properly. Others have said the concrete underneath has shifted.

Adrienne Campbell, vice president of Penquin Painters, declined comment. Crown Polymers, manufactures of the flooring, could not be reached for comment.

The bottom line, according to Stephenson, county commissioners and Rick Fox, president of the humane association board, the flooring must be repaired or replaced. Both are daunting tasks for a facility housing hundreds of animals.

“We want to do it sooner than later, because this is our slow season. It is not puppy and kitten season and we don’t take in as many animals,” Stephenson said. She said the dogs will have to be located to foster homes or other facilities while the floor is fixed.

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