ӣ����Ƶ

The shelter had been operating without a license since mid-May following three failed inspections by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The shelter passed the inspection for its license Monday after meeting standards for cleanliness and space for dogs, among other requirements.

"The license is more than a piece of paper," said county health director Dr. Kanika Cunningham, at a news conference Tuesday. "It affirms that we're on the right path, one grounded in humane care, accountability and hope. But it's also just the beginning. We're doing all we can to get more dogs and cats adopted."

Staff and volunteers worked long hours in recent weeks to bring the shelter up to state standards, Cunningham said.

But a former animal control officer said the shelter should have passed on the first inspection.

"It shouldn't have gotten to this point," said Clinton Wall, a longtime officer who resigned in May after he felt he was pushed out by shelter leadership.

Wall said overpopulation and not enough experienced staff caused the shelter to fail inspections.

Despite past problems, the state's latest one-page inspection report, dated Monday, is succinct: "No non-compliant items identified in this inspection," it says. "The license can now be issued."

The report indicates there were 243 animals, including 185 dogs, in the shelter when inspectors visited at 3 p.m. Monday, and there were 29 other animals in foster homes.

Some dogs may not have been at the shelter when the state inspectors visited, said Sara Dayley, a spokesperson for the county health department. Throughout the day, dogs may be on walks, at off-site "doggie dates" or temporarily placed in foster homes "as part of our efforts to reduce kennel stress and improve adoptability," Dayley said in a statement.

"These positive outcomes for the animals can sometimes create a discrepancy in real-time population counts during inspections," Dayley said.

As of Tuesday morning, the shelter's population was up to 277, Dayley said.

In previous inspections, the state cited violations for holding dogs in cages too small for them, failing to clean up feces in play yards and allowing bugs in food storage areas, among other problems.

The shelter has been the subject of a ӣ����Ƶ County Council probe into the failed inspections and an outbreak of parvovirus this spring that led to the euthanasia of 19 dogs.

Council Chair Rita Heard Days said Tuesday the hearings could continue because there are "still some issues to be ironed out," including details of how the shelter is operated.

County Executive Sam Page wants the council to approve a few pending bills, including one that would allow the shelter to accept donations without council approval. Another would allow the shelter to waive adoption fees.

Days said the council is in talks with Page's administration on those bills.