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Wednesday, September 27, 2006
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Modified dog ordinance backed CROW WING COUNTY BOARD Senior Reporter Crow Wing County commissioners continue to try to get a leash on their dog ordinance.
On Tuesday, both extremes - provide a nuisance dog service across the county or discontinue it altogether - were aired.
In the end, the board voted to move forward with a modified plan that means townships that pay for the service will get beefed up service.
The county's dog ordinance is not to be confused with how dangerous dogs are handled. Dangerous animals in the county are handled by the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department.
The county's dog ordinance relates to nuisance dogs, like the unleashed pets that roam an individual's property but belong to the neighbor. Other examples of nuisance dogs include those that bark excessively, are abandoned or chase deer.
Going to the dogs
The Crow Wing County dog ordinance was adopted in 2002.
The county funded the costs the first year and arranged to bill townships a rate of $2.50 per household.
Townships were billed for their portion of costs. Some refused to pay. A series of meetings were hosted to resolve the conflict.
In 2005, the dog ordinance cost $80,758 and generated revenue of only $27,803.
There were 390 animal control calls in 2005, according to sheriff's department records.
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No one from the public spoke during a dog ordinance hearing during the board's regular meeting at the courthouse. Commissioner John Ferrari pointed out a common complaint in the system noting once a complaint call comes in the response time means there may not be a dog there once the animal control officer arrives. The county has one animal control officer and a contract with Heartland Animal Rescue Team in Brainerd.
The plan commissioners supported calls for a continuation of the dog ordinance to the tune of $60,000 in the 2007 budget. Service would continue to be provided to Unorganized Territory, which borders Brainerd and Baxter to the north and is heavily populated. Unorganized Territory made up about 30 percent of nuisance dog calls in 2005. The county board acts as the township board for Unorganized Territory. Townships that pay the county also would get service with the proposal. HART agreed to meet with each township and provide an overview of the services and HART will provide backup services to pick up animals. The added service would not add on to what the county pays for administration, but would mean mileage reimbursement. The county pays HART about $3,200 per month and pays the animal control officer about $1,845 per month.
Commissioner Terry Sluss said without the county's contract HART may not be able to continue services. Commissioner Dewey Tautges said he didn't think people who are good Samaritans and find abandoned animals should have to pay to have the animal taken to HART.
In the past, townships suggested individuals could handle the issue themselves and options included shooting the stray dog.
"Maybe people are a little more heartless than me," Tautges said. "I just can't shoot a dog."
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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