An ice storm storm has prompted Fitchburg, MA, officials to use the Fitchburg Public Library as a temporary shelter for 16 dogs, cats, and birds owned by city residents temporarily staying in the nearby Fitchburg Senior Center, but library director Ann Wirtanen isn't pleased.

"This just isn't the place," Wirtanen, a dog owner herself, told the Sentinel and Enterprise. "The noise, the smell, it's disturbing."

Mayor Lisa Wong, however, called the library ideally located, given the situation. Most commenters on the newspaper's web site were highly critical of Wirtanen. However, given that pet owners can be more vociferous than those who don't own pets, I'm not sure that represents a cross section of opinion.
 
One commenter suggested, "The animals should be allowed in the shelters with their owners. If they are a 'health hazard' in a school [where they were ineligible to be placed] then they surely are the same hazard in the library."

The shelter, run by the Central Massachusetts Disaster Animal Response Team (CM DART),  includes cages in a library hallway. CM DART staffers feed and walk the animals. CM DART President JoAnn Griffin said that those complaining should plan ahead for a better alternative.