By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
As Countryside Humane Society winds down its animal control contracts by year’s end with various municipalities across Racine County, Waterford village officials continue to mull how the service should be handled in 2013 and beyond.
Village Administrator Rebecca Ewald recently provided the Village Board with an update on the issue, which could have the Wisconsin Humane Society providing the service.
One component of the issue receiving laser focus at the moment is animal housing. The village currently has an arrangement with the Town of Waterford – which is already equipped with kennels – to house any stray dogs brought in.
“It’s been a positive relationship up to this point,” Ewald said of the village’s agreement with the town.
The town’s shelter houses lost or stray dogs for up to seven days. On most occasions, Ewald said, the dog and its owner are reunited.
“With the changes (coming in 2013), there would be a need for some type of intergovernmental agreement,” Ewald said. “I’m continuing to explore that.”
Based on past arrangements, the town bills the village for each dog housed at the kennel. The village, in turn, invoices residents for the number of days the dog is housed.
Countryside – and perhaps Wisconsin Humane Society in the future – pick up any stray dogs left at the town’s kennel for more than seven days.
“There’s no conclusion I have for you at this moment,” Ewald recently told the village board. “But I’m continuing to follow it. I’m continuing to explore all of the options.”
With the village at a point of transition in the issue of animal control services, Ewald suggested to the board that this might be an opportune time to examine existing ordinances and possibly make tweaks.
Ewald said it could be particularly beneficial to have a procedure outlined for unusual circumstances, such as a person found to be in possession of large numbers of cats.
“It could be helpful to have other (animal control) providers as back-up, if we need it,” Ewald added.
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