Salina Animal Shelter Currently Housing 22 Court-held Pit Bulls

The Salina Animal Shelter is currently housing 22 court-held pit bulls, according to shelter officials during a recent Animal Control Advisory and Appeals Board meeting.

All of the pit bulls have undergone DNA testing that confirmed they are either Staffordshire Terrier pit bulls or American pit bulls with 50% or more breed composition, shelter staff reported.

These animals are being held as part of court proceedings, with court dates typically scheduled six to eight weeks out to allow time for processing information.

The shelter is required to hold these dogs until their cases are resolved.

"We try our best to get them to rescues," a shelter representative explained during the meeting. "We're actively trying to find places for them to go. There's just so many places that are not taking now because they're in the same boat that we are."

The shelter cannot spay or neuter court-held animals and can only provide basic vaccines until the animals are either released or become shelter property.

Staff noted they work with the city prosecutor's office throughout the court process to monitor case status.

In some cases, the shelter has been able to arrange release agreements allowing dogs to go to family members living in different states.

Four pit bulls were released in early October, with additional transfers occurring in September. Three more were recently released to a family member living in a different state.

According to shelter policy, dogs with DNA testing showing less than 50% pit bull composition can be adopted out within city limits, while those with 50% or higher must be placed outside the city.

The shelter has a total of 67 kennels for dogs, with approximately one-third currently occupied by these court-held pit bulls.