8.a Staff report-animal control servicesSCANDIA
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: April 21, 2020
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, Deputy Clerk
Re: Proposed contracts for animal control services and impound facility
Background: At the April 1St Work Session, City Council discussed entering into an agreement
with Brit Harmon, who operates Companion Animal Control, and who provides animal control
services to surrounding communities including Marine on St. Croix, May Township, Forest Lake,
and Hugo.
In addition to an agreement with Ms. Harmon, the City would need to enter into a separate
agreement with an animal impound facility. Otter Lake Animal Care Center in Hugo has agreed
to provide this service to the City of Scandia. Council directed staff to also contact Northwoods
Humane Society in Wyoming on potentially serving as an impound facility. Staff left several
messages with the director but did not receive a response. Ms. Harmon provided this message
in follow up from the April 1St Work Session:
"I reached out to Renee, the Director at Northwoods Humane Society. They are no longer at a
point where providing impounding services to Scandia is an option. There are a few reasons for
this, most notably is that NHS no longer has staff that can handle dangerous or aggressive
animals. When a location serves as an impound facility, they are required by contract to take in
every dog and cat impounded by animal control. This is particularly important for bite
quarantines and cruelty/neglect cases. However, NHS takes in animals by'managed intake'
meaning that they agree to only take in animals which they know they can safely handle and
likely adopt out. So while this process works well for NHS, it does not work with providing
impound services. If you have further questions, you're welcome to call the shelter again, the
director is the correct contact person.
Moving forward, the Clinic Manager at Otter Lake Animal Care Center is Mollie Fisk. As I
mentioned at the meeting yesterday, I've confirmed with Otter Lake that they are willing to
provide impound services to Scandia. If you have additional questions, I'd recommend calling
the clinic and ask for Mollie (651-426-8871). Generally municipalities simply sign the impound
agreement when they sign the animal control agreement. Otter Lake has never attended one of
the city council meetings as their contract is pretty straight forward."
Proposal Details: Both agreements are included with this report. Ms. Harmon's fees are
provided in paragraph 3 of the animal control services contract. In addition to fees for
responses to animal control, the City will pay a monthly retainer of $150.
Otter Lake's impound fees are provided in Exhibit A of their contract. Owners of claimed dogs
will be responsible for payment of fees, including the City's $100 impound fee as provided in
the ordinance § 90.10 REDEMPTION:
"Any dog may be redeemed by the owner after being impounded within five working days after
seizure of the dog upon payment of an impounding fee of $100 to the Clerk, or to the agent as
the City Council may designate plus the amount then being charged by the Animal Shelter for
daily board, veterinary and administrative fees."
The $100 impound fee collected by Otter Lake Animal Care Center for claimed dogs is paid back
to the City. The City is responsible for payment of fees to Otter Lake for unclaimed dogs.
Regarding the disposal of unclaimed dogs, Ms. Harmon's contract describes that efforts are
made to place the animals in a humane outcome:
(k) At the completion of an animal holding period Contractor will work in conjunction with the
Impound Facility, local foster -based rescues and animal shelters to ensure a humane outcome
when possible for all impounded animals. If Impound Facility is unable to secure a live outcome
for the animal the Contractor shall assist in placement with a shelter or rescue, subsequent fees
apply.
In addition, Ms. Harmon provided this response:
"I have an extensive network of shelters and rescues I place animals with after their holding
period or surrender. Dogs and cats are only humanely euthanized when it is inhumane to keep
them alive due to the extent of an injury or severe disease, but there are a few rescues I work
with that specialize in medical cases so most often we can provide a dog or cat with the care it
needs. Additionally, if an animal has a significant bite history of more than one bite or the bite
was severe then that animal may be humanely euthanized to ensure safety of the public, I make
that decision on a case by case basis. Hope that provides some additional clarification."
Issue: Should Scandia enter into agreements for Animal Control Services with Companion
Animal Control (Brit Harmon) and Animal Services Impound Agreement with Otter Lake Animal
Care Center?
Options: 1) Approve the contracts for Animal Control Services with Companion Animal Control
(Brit Harmon) and Animal Services Impound Agreement with Otter Lake Animal Care Center.
2) Make changes to the agreements.
3) Do not approve the agreements.