"We have a condition with some rats that we've been trying to deal with for the past several months," said Carole Heller, the Director of the Madison County Animal Shelter.
Heller says the rats aren't causing much of a problem, but are making their presence known. "They are running through the runs with the animals and leaving feces and are also digging very big holes throughout the yard," she explained.
The rats aren't believed to be spreading disease at the shelter, but Heller does admit it's possible. "There is a possibility that if there was an infectious disease that one of the dogs had, that a rat could possibly spread it by running through the run and then going into another run," Heller said.
Plans are underway for a new facility and Heller is working with other officials to ensure rats stay out.
"We're putting in a chain link fence with a one inch opening instead of a two inch, so rats won't be able to get in, and we're also putting in rodent wire so they can't dig underneath the runs," said Heller.
