Residents outside of St. Joseph city limits will have to pay more to leave unwanted animals with St. Joseph Animal Control & Rescue. The City Council raised handling fees Monday.
People who drop off a pet at St. Joseph Animal Control & Rescue often leave with an empty feeling.
For Buchanan County residents, the empty feeling may spread to their wallets as well.
The St. Joseph City Council raised handling fees for Buchanan County residents outside the city limits from $10 to $40 on Monday. County residents formerly paid the same fee as St. Joseph citizens when they brought an unwanted pet to animal control, due to a contract where the county paid the city for animal control services. When the county decided not to renew the contract, city officials had to find a way to make up the financial shortfall.
The city also accepts animals from communities outside the county on a contract basis. The fee for those animals will increase from $20 to $40.
"Our budget has grown over the years, and we need more money to cover costs," said Rick Smith, manager of animal control.
Mr. Smith estimated the city spent $40 per animal to house, feed and eventually euthanize about 300 animals from outside the city limits last year.
The people who bring in animals care enough to take them to a place where they can be adopted. Maybe the owner has moved into an apartment that does not allow dogs. Or perhaps the herd of stray cats living in the back alley grew too large.
Mayor Ken Shearin worried that the fee increase would lead more county residents to abandon pets instead of taking them to animal control.
"They've got the option, but they might not have the $40," Mr. Shearin said.
The mayor predicted that many of the animals could wind up on city streets, where animal control officers eventually would pick them up without receiving any revenue.
Council member Roger Baker speculated that county residents who no longer wanted their pets would leave them in a rural area.
"I don't think they're going to haul them in and dump them in the city where they have a higher chance of being caught," Mr. Baker said.
Animal abandonment is a criminal offense in St. Joseph.
Council members Bill Falkner and Barbara LaBass said the city should give county residents a discount somewhere between the $10 rate for St. Joseph citizens and the $40 for those outside the county. They suggested another round of negotiations between the city and the county commission.
Mr. Smith said he had spoken to commissioners and was repeatedly told they did not wish to negotiate for a lower price, as the county plans to use its own employee to manage animal control issues.
City Manager Vince Capell said the county does not offer the city discounts for services, so the city should not do the same.
The ordinance passed 5-2, with Mr. Falkner and Ms. LaBass voting no, while Mr. Shearin abstained for unspecified reasons.
"It looks like we're slapping their hands," Mr. Falkner said. "Maybe if we put the best foot forward, they won't charge us so much for everything."
Clinton Thomas can be reached at clintonthomas@npgco.com.
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TrappinFool says...
Well we can see that Mr. Falkner subscribes to the Obama school of thought! Why don't we just grin and shake hands with our enemies and they'll love us and not want to attack us!
If the county doesn't give the city any breaks on any services, why should the city even begin to think they would cut the county a break? Get real Falkner! The county had their choice when they chose not to partner with the city and say they have no intent on discussing a rate reduction.
July 29, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pmtotalrisk says...
I live out in the country, and my biggest problem is people coming down my street and abandoning their dogs and cats. After awhile these dogs form packs and end up killing my livestock. So trying to be a good citizen I try to take the well behaved dogs to the pound.. now they raise the rates? My only choice is to fill these abandoned pets full of lead. Its either they eat.. or my family.. not a hard choice..
I just wish people would think about what they are doing before they abandon their pets on a country road. Us farmers end up taking a hit when these dogs damage or kill our livestock cause they are hungry.
I've lost 12 chickens this year because of stray cats and a stray dog. Yep I caught em eventually, but with 4 kids, how many eggs did I loose from those chickens?
July 29, 2009 at 2:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mustang says...
I totally agree with pmtotalrisk. I live in the county too and you'd be amazed at the amount of pets that are dumped down here. All the cats that we've had have been dumped off, not one pet have we picked out for ourselves, they find us. The dogs do form packs and are a threat to us and livestock. My husband and I walk on a regular basis and we do carry pepper spray with us, just in case, and have had to use it once so far against a single dog so far this yr. Just hope that Ron Martin can handle the job as dog catcher when I have to call him.
July 29, 2009 at 3:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KaylaC says...
Of course they would raise the price everything else has went up. So im waiting for the adoption prices to go up also but I wouldn't know since I never go down there! Maybe just maybe if they didn't euthanize them within a week or so(they could save a little bit of money but what do I know) then more people would have the chance to adopt them so they could make money the good way. Another way to save money is to get rid of all those people sitting behind the desk doing nothing but talking and use volunteers more. the st joe animal control is outrages and I have absolutely no respect for those people with the couple of encounters I have had with them! If I had to take one of my beloved family members to a shelter for any reason I would make the drive to Atchison!
July 29, 2009 at 3:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
KaylaC,
I don't intend to impune you or your feelings, but the people who work at the animal shelter are good people. They're overloaded. They have to deal with terrifically unreasonable people who refuse to obey the law and treat their pets with care. My family and I have "rescued" several strays here in the city, and the animal control folks will come by, and pick up the dogs, and they're careful, kind, and considerate. I know one lady at the animal shelter specifically, and I know for a fact she loves the animals and does her best to take care of them with the limited resources they have. The two gentlemen I've had the pleasure of meeting when they've come out to the house to pick up strays have been really good guys. I HAVE been to the shelter on occasion, and I haven't seen people just "sitting around behind desks". Normally, I thank God I have a different job, because I don't know if I could handle doing what they do, every day.
Animal control....I salute you!
July 29, 2009 at 3:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southpride says...
POPS.... actually quite a few workers at the shelter are VERY rude not to mention LAZY. how hard is it to feed and water a dog? let alone put one to sleep, which they do all too often. maybe they would get more praise if they were a no-kill institution. and dont blame it on the cost of feeding the populated animals.....ITS ALL DONATIONS buddy
July 29, 2009 at 3:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
What do you suggest they do with all the dogs and cats they end up with, if they don't euthanize them? Trust me....they have WAY more pets coming IN than they're able to adopt OUT.
As for their being rude....I've been there...and seen what could be construed as "rude". However, in the two or three cases I personally observed, the "customer" had it coming...and STARTED the rudeness. Want a case in point? Here's one:
I was at the shelter one day, and a woman was there because her dog had been picked up....AGAIN. It was like the third or fourth time. She was angry and upset because she had been fined, and was also facing a hefty fee to get her dog back. She was rude, insulting and provoking in her attitude toward the workers there. I watched them try to explain to her that there is a leash law in St. Joe. The woman refused to accept that, and insisted she didn't feel that it's right to restrain a dog...that pets have a right to run free. She was told the law prevented that, and she insisted she wasn't going to abide by the law. Eventually, the workers DID become rude, but in was in response to being abused and cursed at repeatedly. They finally invited her to leave, and informed her that if she refused to pay the fees to retrieve her dog, it would either be adopted out to someone who'd take proper care of it, or it would be put to sleep. They didn't inform her of that fact gently or nicely. Could their responses have been considered "rude" or abusive? You betcha!! However, in my humble opinion, the lady had it coming...
If you don't want people to treat you rudely, try treating THEM with respect and, above all, obey the law!!
July 29, 2009 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
i just hope that those who live in the county who are upset about this get on the phone and rip one to the county commissioners who are the dolts who created this mess. if the county is so dead set on having lower taxes, and its residents are happy with their lower taxes .........then YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
the council should set up more of a meeting with the county axxhats than having the animal control manager talk to them on the phone. bill falkner is once again the voice of reason.
July 29, 2009 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KaylaC says...
you know pops.... actually they do have a no kill faculty in Atchison that is why I would actually give them my money. (yes they have a lot of animals)BUT people have way more respect for them and love to adopt pets for the good cause. And I have rescued one of my dogs from st joe only because I was there with a friend and I heard them going to each cage saying which ones would be put down that day and my puppy I got was slated to go. At the time he was only 7 months old and I know eventually he would have went to another family. But when I tried to get him they was being rude saying he was a beagle and that I shouldn't have him inside city limits and got mad kind of when I said I didn't care. so tell me if that's "doing the job" correctly.
July 30, 2009 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
All I'm saying, KaylaC, is that if you worked there, and dealt with the sort of people, day in and day out, that those workers deal with, you might find youself a bit rude and jaded yourself. Before you criticize, perhaps you might ought to walk a mile in their shoes.
I do agree about the no-kill options. I wasn't aware of the one in Atchison, but there's also M'Shuggies(sp?), in Savannah. We've gone there once or twice to adopt, too. However, the St. Joe animal shelter has, by far, the largest influx of animals than the others, combined. I'd still pose my question: What do you suggest they do with all the animals they receive/pick up? Who is REALLY at fault for all the strays? Certainly not the animal shelter personnel...and certainly not the city. It's lame-brained, idiotic, irresponsible citizens who dump their pets, or allow them to run, unrestrained. Put the blame where it belongs....
July 30, 2009 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TrappinFool says...
People are complaining that it is St. Joe's fault they had to raise the rates and that they will have to kill dogs or there will be a ton of strays. Did you forget that your county now has it's own animal control "unit" now? If you have a problem with stray dogs, call Mr. Martin and have him come take care of the problem. It is the same thing that would happen if you lived in the city. You have a problem with dogs, you call animal control and they come take care of the problem. Your county commissioners slated you to have Mr. Martin come take care of your problems. The only reason county residents were allowed to take animals to the shelter in St. Joe was because the county had a contract with the city.
Everyone complains about the kill shelters, but those who complain have no clue what a no-kill shelter does to a dog. Do you not realize that those animals basically go crazy sitting in those kennels every day? Animal control has to put down animals for reasons. It is either because they are sick, have bitten someone and the owner signed a release on the dog, or they simply don't have any room left and they have to put down least desirable dogs to make room for more coming in.
I know people who work down there and I know they work hard. They care for the animals and love what they do. I know where all of their desks sit so if you are seeing them "all" sit behind desks and do nothing then you are in a part of the building that almost no average citizen sees.
So you have a problem with kill shelters? Have you ever heard of an organization named PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)? Why don't you search the internet and see the form they submitted to the Virginia Department of Agriculture by PETA?
Here are some links:
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/pressR...
The actual documents here:
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/downl...
If they are the ones who are lobbying for the ethical treatment of animals then why is it ok for them to euthanize 95% of their animals and no one else can euthanize any? Why not call down to the shelter on Lower Lake and ask them what their euthanasia rate is?
July 30, 2009 at 12:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chara says...
i have called the shelter for for maltreatment of a dog. they responed and were very professional, but, when my daughter found a stray she tied it up put some water and food in bowl for it.when she tried find a home for it someone called and when the lady showed up she was totally not listening . threaten to give her a ticket if she got a call back. don't have tp tell you where the dog ended up. could've been handle in a more profeesional way. i understand the public can be demanding,but,you have to be professional or find another line of work. when you serve the public a thick skin sometimes is called for. just ask a police officer.
July 30, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
I just have to ask, chara....considering how your situation worked out....did you ever consider asking that animal shelter worker to your house for a beer???? Could have solved the entire problem.....
July 30, 2009 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
akm says...
I hope I never have to call animal shelter for help with stray dogs again. My daughter left her two dogs (8-9 month)with me. We had them on a run in the front yard. I moved them to a pen in the back yard to go to work. Early one morning a couple of strays had shown up in the neighborhood. So I called the dog pound. Animal control lady gave me a ticket!!! She said that my dogs were probably in heat and attracted the strays and I should have kept them in the house! I was dog sitting!
July 30, 2009 at 2:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Leonie says...
Exactly pops! Ask anyone that annoys us (or tries to arrest us) to our house for a beer! That is going to be how I settle everything from now on!
Anyway back to the problem of "rude" employees at the shelter. While they get their good fun moments, like when we adopted 2 pets, instead of the one we intended, a couple years ago, I imagine they have a lot more bad moments. Frantic people seeking lost pets, all the times they have to euthanize pets, people screaming at them about the pet laws that they have no control over....on and on. I am amazed that they get anyone to work there at all. So cut them some slack and remember that it is only going to get worse, now that the county has decided to close their eyes to the fact that lots and lots people are cruel enough to abandon unwanted pets on someone else's property. I have a feeling that it is going to get ugly fast.
July 30, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
akm,
I sympathize with you...and would agree that had that happened to me, I'd be hot, too. I do wonder....did the animal control worker go after the stray dogs, or just ticket you for "attracting" them with yours?
I can only speak to the experiences I've had, personally, with the animal control personnel. For me....they've been professional, kind, decent and considerate. I've SEEN their "rude" side, but as I've already said....I feel the people they were rude TO had it coming.....
July 30, 2009 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TrappinFool says...
Also, believe it or not, people lie to them ALL THE TIME! Nobody ever really owns a dog if they are going to get a ticket or they have only had it a couple of days (or so they will say). They can't cut everyone a break because the 1 person who is telling the truth out of every 10 isn't worth the odds.
The citizens treat them like crap because no one feels they can be told what to do with their animals. They don't have arrest powers so people think they can treat them however they want and lie to them about everything. The people who work down there do what they do for the animal's sake and enforce city laws.
It is the irresponsible pet owners who fail to take care of their pets and take responsibility for their own actions. I was told it is a violation of city law to allow a dog in heat outside without supervision or allow other dogs access to it. Whoever is in control of the dogs is the person responsible for the control of the dogs. If you are watching the dogs, then you are responsible. If you can't care for the dogs or are not willing to take the responsibility then you shouldn't watch the dogs.
July 30, 2009 at 4:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
However, I WOULD point out that if the dogs are in heat, but locked inside a fenced run....I'd HARDLY consider that "allowing other dogs access"....especially if those OTHER dogs are wandering around loose!!
akm...I sincerely hope you went to court and fought that ticket!! Regardless of the fact I respect the bulk of the animal control personnel, whoever wrote that ticket, if the facts were the way you said, was dead wrong....
July 30, 2009 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chara says...
hey pops i would've invited her in for a beer but my wife has rules and wouldn't want to be charged with bribery. i just figured she was haveing a bad day. they have a job i would'nt have and they lady who handled the first call was great. its just one of those jobs people don't always respect until they need them. ask any police officer.
July 30, 2009 at 10:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
been_there_seen_that says...
Heritage- I live in the county and will not be voting for any of the current commissioners when their term is up. Over 600 people apply for jobs with the Circuit Clerks office but only a few applied for ronnie martin's job?? Give ME a break! must be nice to get a county truck to drive for free and free beverages at what used to be your family's business.
July 30, 2009 at 11:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mj87 says...
I volunteer at the shelter and am there a LOT, and I have never seen the staff just "sitting around." They work hard and their jobs are hard physically and emotionally.
Would you approach an animal you didn't know that may or may not be agressive, only to bring it in and try and find it a home? I doubt it. Would you be able to euthanize perfectly good dogs EVERY DAY--not because of any fault to the dog, but to poor owners and people? I doubt it. Would you be able to stay, day after day, and listen to people come in and make up STUPID excuses as to why they're bad and irresponsible pet owners? I doubt it. You'd get annoyed too. How are these staff workers supposed to tell who is just making a mistake and who is a poor pet owner? They can't when they first meet you, so they're going to treat you all the same and be cautious. It's no fault of their own. They're just doing their jobs.
They work hard and have taxing jobs. They aren't lazy. They don't sit behind desks all day. They deal with irresponsible people all day and why? For the animals. Don't blame the shelter workers, blame irresponsible pet owners and the people of this town, because it's their fault the dogs and cats are even there in the first place.
July 31, 2009 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )