Animal Control Issues On Tap

SHELTER DISCUSSION ADDED TO AGENDA

— Animal control questions, including a county animal shelter, have been added to the agenda for today’s 10 a.m. meeting of the Benton County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council.

The council is made up of the county judge, county clerk and mayors of all of the cities in Benton County. The group meets at least once a year, according to state law, to discuss issues of interest to the different governmental subdivisions. The areas of discussion can include law enforcement, fire protection, jails, ambulance and emergency medical services, library services and any other service areas of local government.

The council’s recent meetings have focused on emergency medical services, which is also on the agenda for today. Animal control issues were added at the request of the city of Avoca.

Diane Bowen, Avoca recorder-treasurer, asked the council to take up the issue, saying it’s a widespread problem.

MEETING INFORMATION

Benton County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council

The council, made up of the county judge, county clerk and mayors of the cities in Benton County, is set to meet at 10 a.m. today at the Quorum Courtroom in the Benton County Administration Building.

“I think it’s something a lot of the smaller cities have to deal with,” Bowen said. “We have issues with animals, but we don’t have the resources of money to handle them on our own. It’s just cost-prohibitive for a small town like us.”

Bowen said a call from an Avoca resident brought the animal control issue to her attention while she was reviewing the city’s notice of the council meeting.

“There was a dog at a convenience store here in Avoca and the people had called the city,” she said. “I had just had that phone call and I was curious if the council could discuss this issue, so I called and asked if it could be put on the agenda.”

Bowen said her city is interested in a cooperative solution to the problem, including the possibility of a county animal shelter. She said today’s discussion is meant to be a possible starting point if there is enough interest in working on the issue.

Benton County now has one animal control officer, according to Capt. Mike Jones with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

“We do have the animal control deputy,” Jones said. “We have one deputy who is responsible for the entire unincorporated area of Benton County.”

Jones said the animal control deputy has so many calls the county is in a reactive mode, rather than being proactive about the animal population question. He said the county will pick up stray dogs, but not cats, according to county ordinance. Animals picked up by the county are taken to the Humane Society shelter in Rogers. Jones said the county has spent about $45,000 so far in 2011 on animal control.

“We’ve got our hands full just covering the county,” Jones said.

County Judge Bob Clinard said he’s prepared to listen to the discussion and agreed the problem deserves attention.

“I know it’s a big problem and it’s just going to get bigger,“ Clinard said.

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