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Gardner updates animal control: licensing, microchip stations and TNR pilot
Summary
City staff told the council that online pet licensing and new microchip scanning stations helped reduce shelter intakes and calls; a trap-neuter-return pilot and a discount microchip program with local clinics are due to roll out to further reduce stray-cat issues and costs.
City animal control staff updated the Gardner City Council on a series of operational changes the department began after losing a local shelter and facing higher call volumes. Staff said the city launched online pet licensing through BarkPass and introduced a three-year license, incentives for microchipped and spayed/neutered pets, and five public microchip-scanning stations at city parks.
Staff reported increased licensing ("over a 100 additional pets licensed so far this year") and described recent vaccination and microchip clinics: a drive-through clinic at the justice center vaccinated and microchipped 182 pets. They said the number of pets the city has had to pick up has dropped substantially compared with 2024 ("we were over 300 [sheltered] in '24" versus "we've only lodged 27 pets" so far this year) and that total calls for service were down from prior years. Staff attributed budget savings to these changes and to a partnership with the regional shelter Always and Forever, while acknowledging that the current approach is not a long-term solution.
To address feral cat colonies, staff announced a trap-neuter-return (TNR) pilot starting this month focused on Conestoga Trailer Park; the program will use volunteers for trapping and a veterinary partner for spay/neuter and ear-tipping. They also described a discount microchip program in which the city buys chips and local clinics implant them for a small fee (about $5'$10). Councilors asked staff about owner reunification rates and scanning technology; staff said many found owners before transport and that scanning hardware design involved the police department.
Staff said the projected animal-control budget for 2025 had been about $190,000 but, with the new approach and partnerships, projected spending would be under $40,000 by year end. The council did not make new policy changes at the meeting; staff said they will continue to evaluate partnerships and long-term shelter options, including the possibility of a city-owned shelter with a nonprofit operator.
