Shorecrest Beach Club leader tells Mason County many HOAs want to contribute toward restoring county animal control

MASON COUNTY, Wash. — Al Nederrider, vice president of the Shorecrest Beach Club homeowners association, told Mason County commissioners Oct. 14 that as many as 18 local HOAs are interested in contributing toward county animal control services.

Nederrider said he read a news report indicating it could cost about $175,000 to reestablish an animal control program in the county and that one proposal mentioned $60,000 to the sheriff’s office to cover current animal control work. He said his HOA and others have recurring complaints about loose and aggressive dogs and that the sheriff’s office has limited enforcement options when residents do not answer doors.

Nederrider proposed HOAs contribute money to the county budget to help reinstate dedicated animal control, saying HOAs could meet with county staff and the sheriff to discuss levels of participation and possible contribution amounts. He suggested an approximate HOA contribution figure of $5,000 as an example but said HOAs would likely vary in their ability to contribute.

County staff asked Nederrider for contact information and said staff member Travis would follow up to help schedule a meeting with HOAs and the sheriff to discuss options.

Nederrider said an animal control officer would have additional enforcement authority compared with the sheriff responding to calls or the Humane Society, for example, to obtain warrants and capture animals. He requested time to organize the HOAs and noted the effort likely would take place next year because of timing to reach all associations.