Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Animal control reports 21 cat intakes, training and $5,000 kennel donation as new facility nears occupancy
Summary
At the Feb. 12 Public Works Committee meeting, the animal control representative reported 21 recent cat intakes and six dog intakes, described transfers and adoptions, said she enrolled in a one-year shelter training program, and said a $5,000 kennel donation is expected as the department prepares to occupy a new building.
At its Feb. 12 meeting, the Public Works Committee heard a detailed report from the county animal control representative on recent intakes, outcomes and preparations for a new facility.
The animal control representative told the committee, "we started taking the cats again. We had 21 intakes, 6 for surrenders, 4 were city transfers, 3 were county strays," and listed outcomes including "10 transferred to rescue, 2 are adopted, 1 was reclaimed, and we have 8 adoptables." She said the department took in six dogs: "1 surrender, 3 county, 2 cities," with three listed as adoptable and one rescued.
The representative said she enrolled in an online shelter training and enrichment program that is "open for a year" and that Myers Training (outside of Lena) has pledged a $5,000 donation for kennels, saying, "we should be getting that next week." She described training and enrichment work intended to reduce stress and improve animals' behavior for adoption.
Committee members asked operational questions about the new building. A committee member asked whether the animal control office had a certificate of occupancy; the representative said inspections by the city building inspector and the animal inspector were ongoing and that the inspector had suggested only a mop sink addition. On special permits, the committee member asked, "Have you applied for the special use permit for the outside fence?" The representative said the fence had been put up before they took possession and that the permit process could take about 90 days.
Members also pressed the representative on intake procedures and fees. She explained that reclaimed animals must pay pickup fees and any required rabies and registration fees, and noted many strays are not reclaimed; registrations are captured if an animal is later adopted in-county.
On finances and public outreach, the representative said a local Freeport media outlet will interview her about the new building, and she reported that social postings on Facebook and Petfinder are kept current to aid adoptions. She said the GoFundMe for the new building had not been withdrawn and therefore is not included in the department bank balance, and she expected to provide a more detailed donation breakdown to the committee when requested.
The committee moved on to other business and later voted to enter executive session; no formal action on animal-control policy or funding was taken during the public portion of the meeting.
