Since Blaine County's animal control officer retired in November, residents have been taking up the slack, taking stray animals to the animal shelter in Croy Canyon west of Hailey.
The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley provides numerous services for lost and stray pets. The "no kill" shelter has won numerous awards for its work in protecting, spaying and neutering lost and stray animals.
But the facility is not geared up for dog-catching.
"We are not an animal-control agency," shelter Executive Director Jo-Anne Dixon said in an interview. "That is under the responsibility of the Sheriff's Office or municipal police departments."
Dixon is advocating at the county level for a well-trained animal control officer who could serve the entire valley. Until that happens, residents and policemen will be charged with the task.
"It's not in the best interest of police officers to become dog-catchers," she said.
Since 2007, the shelter has been working under contract with Blaine County, Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley. Each jurisdiction pays an annual fee to cover expected animal impound costs.
Dixon hopes Bellevue will also sign a contract to pay for what has become a burden for the facility—impounds from residents who bring in strays from Bellevue.
"We have done what we can and are looking for you to step up to the plate," she told the City Council on April 8.
In 2009, the shelter took in 74 animals from Bellevue. Thirty-seven of the pets were never picked up by owners, costing the shelter about $5,000 in impound costs.
The city paid only $840 to the shelter in 2009, to cover the cost of impounds that were initiated or authorized by city police or the Sheriff's Office.
It costs $25 per day to house a dog at the shelter.
Dixon told the council that residents bringing animals from Bellevue to the shelter will now be required to get authorization from a Bellevue police officer first. That will automatically result in a bill to the city for impound costs.
Dixon also encouraged the council to consider selling animal licenses and enforcing laws requiring animal tags, so animals can more easily be found by owners.
The council will discuss the matter further at its next meeting April 22.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
