ANIMAL CONTROL
Annual Report 2000
INTRODUCTION:
The Animal Control Officer maintains the safety and welfare of pets and their owners by enforcing the City ordinances regarding animals and providing information to the public on important issues concerning animals.
CURRENT PROGRAMS/SERVICES:
The following services are performed by the Animal Control Officer:
The City of Morgantown also has a spay/neuter program that provides low income residents free spaying or neutering for up to 4 cats per household. Coupons may be obtained from the Animal Control Officer.
RESOURCES:
The Animal Control Department has one S-10 Pick up with a specialized cover and one Officer that works 30 regular hours a week and is on call for emergencies.
PAST YEARS ACTIVITIES:
From January to November the Animal Control Officer received an average of 101 calls per month. This is a 16% increase from 1999. Most calls were for dogs at large and wildlife problems. The Animal Control Officer also collected 67 dogs at large, 42 cats, 101 wild animals, and 51 dead animals. The Officer issued 13 citations. There was an overall increase in the number of animals collected and wildlife impounds increased 53% from 1999.
Graph of animal calls
As reported, rabies is still here and will be here until a major die off lowers the population of raccoons or a vaccination program starts working. The number of positive cases in the County has decreased somewhat though from 16 to 10 [one in the City limits]. State, County, and City Officials have been meeting to discuss the rabies problem and how to keep everyone safe. Because of these meetings, a committee has been appointed by the Governor to look at the State codes regulating responsibility for handling possibly rabid animals. Right now the Health Department is responsible for having the animals that may have exposed a human to rabies collected by Animal Control so it can be sent for testing.
The State is also checking into the oral rabies bait program that will be a combined effort between Ohio, New York, Vermont, and an area from the Great Lakes to the West Virginia border including the Northern Panhandle. If funds become available, West Virginia hopes to include the northern part of the State from the Ohio border to the Appalachian Mountains in the program.
This past year there was a dog bite incident in the County that brought passage of a Dangerous Dog Law in the City that regulates the keeping of dogs that may be a threat to people or other animals in the City.
The City also passed a resolution recognizing Dog Bite Prevention Week May 21-27. During that week information was distributed and the Animal Control Officer spoke to 600 students at North Elementary and 225 students at Easton Grade School, aged kindergarten through 5th grade, about preventing bites and being safe around all animals.
In June, information was provided about rabies and first aid to 3rd to 5th grade students in the Pre-Med Kaleidoscope Project at North Elementary and Clay-Battelle Schools.
The Animal Control Officer spoke at West Virginia University, in November, to Dr. Andy Lattal's Animal Behavior graduate students on types of problems regarding animal behavior.
FORECAST FOR 2001:
The key to lowering adverse animal encounters is education. Next year the Department will meet with more students to help them understand the importance of spaying, neutering, and vaccinating pets and how to live with wild and domestic animals safely.
SUMMARY:
The Animal Control Department offers service and advice on all aspects regarding animal issues, from routine problems like dogs barking and running loose, to complex problems like wildlife and rabies control. The Animal Control Officer will continue to handle all calls promptly so that the community will have the service and protection to make Morgantown a safe and pleasurable place to live.