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DATE: <br />Mayor and City Council <br />Ron Moorse, City Administrator <br />January 2,1998 <br />77,Vq <br />SUBJECT: Long Term Solution for Animal Impound Facilities <br />When a stray dog or a dog running loose is picked up by an Animal Control Officer it must be <br />impounded until the owner is found, or if there is no ownc *, hopefully until it can be adopted by a <br />new owner. The length of the impound can be anywhere from a few hours to several days. Orono <br />impounds approximately 60 animals per year. This includes animals impounded for the three <br />contract cities. <br />Several years ago one private kennel facility was being used by many cities in the area. This kennel <br />facility discontinued service to all cities with very short notice. The city scrambled to find a <br />replacement facility. Orono was able to work out an arrangement with the Humane Society of <br />Wright County to use their facility in Delano. <br />The current arrangements being used by the various cities in the lake area are not secure in terms of <br />long term availability. This was made very clear by the short notice recently given by the city of <br />Chanhassen to the south lake cities for the termination of animal control services, which included <br />the discontinuation of the arrangement with a private facility for impound services. The city of <br />Orono's arrangement with the Humane Society of Wright County is not a secure one in terms of long <br />term availability. The current impound facility is a small facility located on leased property. The <br />Humane Society has plans to construct a new facility in tiie western portion of Wright County. This <br />facility would not be viable as an impound facility for Orono due to its location. <br />Because of this lack of secured, long term arrangements for animal impounds, the lake area cities <br />have been discussing the need to have a facility that we are assured will be available over the long <br />term. Options considered for accomplishing this include a long term arrangement with a private <br />kennel, the cities jointly constructing and operating a facility, and partnering with an existing animal <br />humane society. <br />In pursuing an arrangement with a private kennel, letters were sent to all private kennels and <br />veterinary offices in the lake area soliciting their interest in a long term arrangement with the lake <br />area cities for animal impounds. No indications of interest were received in response to the mailing. <br />Several groups of cities in the Metro area have currently constructed and are jointly operating <br />impound facilities. The costs of this option arc significantly greater than the costs of options <br />currently being used by cities. <br />Several weeks ago staff met with several Board members and the Operations Manager of the <br />Humane Society of Wright County to discuss possible cooperative arrangements for a longer term <br />solution for an animal impound facility. One alternative both the city staff and the Humane Society