Politics & Government

Supervisors Approve Animal Control Board Contract

Newtown Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the three-year contract with the Delaware County Animal Control Board on Dec. 12.

NEWTOWN SQUARE–For the past few Saturdays, the Delaware County Animal Protection Board met with representatives from the county's municipalities in regards to the pending three-year contract.

Earlier this month, on Saturday, Dec. 3, the county's Animal Protection Board urged officials to sign a three-year, $250-per-animal contract for the proposed animal control facility in Darby Township.

On Monday night, the Newtown Board of Supervisors unanimously approved, 5-0, the three-year contract with the county's Animal Protection Board to utilize the animal control facility.

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According to Supervisors Chairman Joseph Catania, the assessed annual rate would be $1,250. The contract includes receiving a $250 credit for the first five strays received from a township.

Chief Dennis Anderson said if the credit is not used within the first year, the credit would transfer over and the township would be able to apply that credit for the following year.

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Any strays that are sent to the animal control facility after the first five strays will cost the township $250 each. But Catania said the issue of strays in the township did not appear to be a "big problem like it is in other townships."

"It doesn't seem likea  big problem with the township," said Catania in regards to the contract. "It happens [sending strays to the animal control facility] about half a dozen to 10 times a year."

Since the , plans are in the works for dealing with strays

In the interim, Anderson said the township will be able to send over any strays during this time to the Chester County SPCA.

"They [Delaware County Animal Protection Board] made a contract with the SPCA in Chester County but they didn’t want to deal with all the individual townships. So, we'll send the money to the county and until June or July we’ll send it to Chester," explained Anderson. "If our animal shelter is open by then, our dog catcher will be taking it down there, under the same fee."

Each municipality must submit a letter of intent in agreement to the three-year contract, in which 39 out of the 41 municipalities must sign by Dec. 16 in order to go forward with the new proposed facility.

A resolution must be passed by Dec. 31, and a signed contract must be submitted by Jan. 1, 2012. The $1,250 annual participation fee will be due within 30 days of signing the contract with the Animal Protection Board.


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