Animal Control Team highlights workload and community focus in performance update

The Health & Human Development Committee of the St. Louis City Council convened on July 10, 2025, to discuss various topics related to community health and safety, with a significant focus on the operations of the city's animal control team.

The meeting began with an overview of the animal control team, presented by a representative from the Department of Health. The team consists of nine full-time animal control officers, one performance animal control officer, and two supervisory positions, with efforts underway to fill the second supervisory role soon. The officers are assigned to specific wards based on call volume, ensuring a balanced distribution of workload among them.

Currently, the animal control officers manage approximately 50 ongoing investigations at any given time and handle between 800 to 900 calls annually. Their daily responsibilities include community outreach, documentation of investigations, and prioritizing urgent calls related to sick or injured animals. The representative highlighted the team's commitment to addressing community needs effectively.

The meeting also featured visual presentations of team members engaging with animals, underscoring the human-animal connection and the team's dedication to animal welfare.

In conclusion, the committee's discussion emphasized the importance of the animal control team's role in maintaining public safety and animal welfare in St. Louis. The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue supporting the team and enhancing their operational effectiveness as they work to serve the community.