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Resident urges hiring more animal-control officers after spike in calls; county says kennel staffing requested but no new officers planned
Summary
A Gloucester Point resident told supervisors animal-control calls rose about 18% year over year, producing roughly 536 overtime hours, and asked whether budgeted funds could add officers. Officials said kennel staffing had been requested but additional animal-control hires were not currently planned; residents described grant-seeking and nonprofit assistance.
Terrence Patterson of Gloucester Point told the Gloucester County board the animal-control unit has four officers (one chief and three deputies) and faces an 18% increase in collection calls from 2024 to 2025, resulting in roughly 536 overtime hours. He asked whether the county budget includes funding to add at least two officers before fiscal 2026–27.
A county official said kennel staffing requests had been made in the budget process but that additional animal-control officer positions were not currently planned; the official said the county will consider needs brought forward via official requests. Patterson said he has begun grant-writing and nonprofit outreach to help relieve workload pressures.
Board members said they will continue to monitor operational needs and staffing requests as part of the budget review.
