Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Lots of questions

    Posted 10-22-2024 11:26 AM
    Hi 
     
    I am starting an new ACO program that is not affiliated with a police department. I am seeking information regarding redemption fees.  Would you please share with me:
    1. what fees your community actually charges for redemptions,
    2. how you cam up with the amounts,
    3. if you have any leeway with them,
    4. what feedback you have gotten from the public and
    5. if you've had anyone refuse to redeem due to costs?  
     
    Thanks
    Jeanne

    #ReturntoHome(LostPetReunification)

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    Jeanne Galloway
    Director of Public Health
    West Springfield Health Department
    MA
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  • 2.  RE: Lots of questions

    Posted 10-23-2024 11:05 AM

    1) $50 flat, and an additional $10/day

    2) The $10 per day is the state "boarding" fee and the $50 is the same amount as a citation. Citations are not normally issued if they made it to the shelter.

    3) We have "spay & pay" wherein if they agree to get the animal fixed we waive the fees. We also discount fees if you agree to a microchip. Additionally, case by case basis we will waive fees for hardship [admittedly we are pretty loose for hardship and almost always waive first reclaim].

    4) Generally fees are not enjoyed by anyone reclaiming. I think a lot of non-animal welfare folk think that reclaim fees make people responsible, but honestly the individuals who do not come and reclaim their dogs just end up with more from a neighborhood breeder. I much rather get their original dog back to them (fixed) than encourage more breeding.

    5) Absolutely. Once an animal enter a shelters the RTO drops dramatically, there is a lot of research that indicates that the majority of people who reclaim are within the upper percentile for income. Traveling to our location, paying a fee, those are major barriers. It's why we really push for in-field RTO and the microchip. We do not want them in the shelter, or be forced to keep them through a hold to adopt -- If we could get away with waiving all fees we would.



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    Rachel Ide
    Animal Services Director
    Young-Williams Animal Center
    TN
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Lots of questions

    Posted 10-25-2024 10:22 AM

    Thank you Rachel.  



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    Jeanne Galloway
    Director of Public Health
    West Springfield Health Department
    MA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Lots of questions

    Posted 10-25-2024 10:49 AM

    Your position sounds like mine. 
    I am basically reinventing the wheel since I have only a board of trustees, a clerk/administrator, and an attorney for our town. It's a lot of paperwork and researching, questions, coming up with plans and ideas that work for your town. 
    I am in the process of updating ordinances that are dated back in the 1990's. Times have changed and that's what I am doing, is changing everything and many see it as "upsetting the apple cart", the biggest complaints are "well the police department never charged us for that, when we had one". Our police department was, in essence, discontinued because there was only one officer working and on call. 
    So, with the "new", comes increased costs for impounding a dog at large, daily fees, figuring out what fines are appropriate for each difference ordinance. 
    It isn't easy, but I am proposing:
    $40 for a pickup of an unlicensed/not wearing a collar while at large
    $25 a day 

    If the animal has no rabies or is expired for rabies, they will be transported to a vet - that will be at the cost of the owner, as well as any care/vaccinations the dog may need, plus the veterinary costs/boarding/quarantine, etc. 

    I am still working on them, there are so many to list, but these seem to be the most common at least for our area. 

    Good luck and I hope it goes well for you! 



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    Kyla Cotant
    Code Enforcement Officer
    Village of Hemingford
    NE
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    Original Message


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