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Resident recounts delayed animal-control response after injured raccoon; council hears calls for clearer contact procedure
Summary
A resident described an incident involving an injured raccoon and said callers were bounced between 911 and county animal-control; he asked the city to provide a direct animal-control contact or a community-service alternative.
Resident Paul McCarthy described an incident two to three weeks earlier when a raccoon struck by a car was left at the curb and callers were routed through 911 and a county animal-control line that would not respond for an incorporated municipality.
McCarthy said he called 911 and was transferred to the county animal-control division, which told him the city police must submit a request because the incident occurred within incorporated Blue Island. McCarthy said he ultimately contacted the police chief, who responded, but urged the city to publish a direct animal-control contact number for residents and to consider dedicated animal-control or community-service resources.
Other council members said they had similar experiences and suggested the city evaluate options for an animal-control phone number or dedicated community-service staff to handle injured animals and related calls. No formal policy or budget decision was made at the meeting; members asked staff to consider possibilities and to follow up.
Ending: Council requested staff follow up on options for an animal-control contact process or dedicated personnel to respond to nonemergency animal issues.
