Logan County Animal Control improving         

[NOV. 4, 2005]  Logan County Animal Control committee chairman Vickie Hasprey was recognized by the board during recent budget proceedings for her management and continuing to bring the county facility back into shape. Hasprey has reorganized personnel and duties at the shelter in an effort to improve quality and hold costs down.

Some of the changes, she said, are that the only surgeries that the shelter will be doing will be emergency surgeries. In order to encourage adoption, new owners of pets that are in need of spaying or neutering will be issued a voucher covering a certain amount of the cost. This will share the work with local veterinarians, she said. Also, animal control warden Vickie Loafman has completed training in euthanizing and has taken over that responsibility from the veterinarian. These changes allow the more costly veterinarian position to be moved to on-call.

The New Holland animal control contract has been renewed at the same rate as it was last year: $1,155 per year or $96.25 per month.

A new state law will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2006, that could help with costs. Under House Bill 315 the shelter can host a spay-and-neuter clinic once per year and keep the money raised. More information will follow when the Illinois Department of Public Health finishes writing the rules that accompany the bill.

This past month the committee discussed raising fines for dogs caught running loose.

The current fine schedule is:

• First offense, $20
• Second offense, $40
• Third offense, $60
• Fourth offense, $100
• Fifth offense, $200

The recommendation is to raise the first two fees and leave the others the same, making these changes:

• First offense, $30
• Second offense, $50

During September there were 50 calls about strays and 72 animals brought in. Thirteen animals were reclaimed, 16 adopted, 14 transferred out, 32 cats went to farms, and an equal number of cats and dogs, 24 total, euthanized.

Animal control is regulated by ordinance to euthanize animals after 15 days of shelter. Loafman said that they currently use a lot of humane societies to place animals.

Committee member Pat O'Neill and Loafman visited the new Animal Protective League facility in Springfield. O'Neill said he learned that Logan County has an inactive humane society chapter that he will pursue activating.

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