During the June 27 meeting of the Salem Board of Aldermen, the board heard comments from Salem resident Debbie Murphy, who addressed the board regarding management of the City Pound, and its relationship with the Dent County Animal Welfare Society (DCAWS).
“I just saw the packet for this meeting last night, and I’m aware of the staff summary report for the agreement with the Dent County Animal Welfare Society. This has raised additional concerns regarding the housing and care of the animals that will be in your care. I was under the impression that this agreement had been in place for some time,” she said. “There will be changes starting next week as per resolution 23-2023, and with that agreement it looks like you will be housing more animals than you have in the past.”
The city has had a longstanding relationship with the Dent County Animal Welfare Society (DCAWS) for placing animals taken in by the city’s animal control officer, according to city staff. The city received a letter containing a new agreement from DCAWS on June 20, effective immediately, stating that DCAWS is only willing to accept 10 animals per month from the city, and effective September 20, the cost per animal will increase from $30 to $50. The staff summary for a related agenda item notes that the agreement “does not leave much room for negotiation” and says that staff has had to scramble to determine where to house the remaining animals. However, DCAWS is the closest facility accepting animals, saving the city money on transportation costs. Considering this fact, and the lack of alternatives, city staff recommended accepting the agreement until a long-term plan is formed. In the meanwhile, the city has reached out to the Phelps County Animal Shelter who has agreed to take five dogs per month at $30 per animal, the same price previously charged by DCAWS. The City budgeted to install a mini-split air conditioner and a new metal roof on the building to fix issues with temperature and water intrusion. However, under the new agreement with DCAWS, the city has begun discussing other possible needs to address as the pound sees a higher volume of animals.
“As you are, or should be aware, the current animal control facility is in need of more than just a roof and air conditioning. This is a city property, and it looks like it’s been abandoned. Many of the city residents did not even know it was still being used,” Murphy continued. In the past, according to city staff, the city’s pound facility was only used for temporary overflow housing of animals when DCAWS was full. In recent weeks, the facility has housed several animals in quarantine, due to a parvo outbreak at DCAWS. The city’s animal control officer is responsible for mowing the property in addition to his numerous other duties.
“I would not expect that the animal control officer be responsible for the animals, and the mowing, and the general upkeep of the grounds. There is a city department that should be involved with that,” she said. “It is a little hypocritical that there is an ordinance that residents can be cited for long grass, and when you look at the overgrown conditions surrounding the animal control facility, it is an embarrassment.”
When The Salem News investigated the grounds of the property on June 28, the grass on the main portion of the lawn was not high, save for some thin weeds, and it was clear that the main portion of the lawn was regularly mowed. However, the building is in a state of disrepair due to age and lack of significant investment in maintenance, particularly the North and West sides of the building, which has become overgrown with vegetation. Staff shared that the facility’s condition is due to the lack of volume of animals, since the previous arrangement with DCAWS meant that most of the animals were housed at their facility rather than the pound. The only dog in the facility at that time appeared healthy and in good spirits, and the kennels on the south side which are used were clean and clear of debris and vegetation.
Murphy discussed the amount included in the draft budget for animal food, which at the time of the meeting, was set at $500 for the year.
“Surely this is not enough, even if you get donations for food,” said Murphy.
She asked for any policies that may exist regarding the animals in the city’s care to be made public. She also said if there were no policies, there should be policies put in place.
“I am aware that you can’t save and care for all the animals. But, please make the public aware of your intentions regarding the Animal Control building, and how it will be staffed and maintained,” she said.
Murphy told the Aldermen that she had filed a “Bark Alert” with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, which had performed an inspection of the pound. Murphy said she had called the department the day before the aldermen meeting, and no report had yet been filed. When The Salem News called the department on June 30, they said an investigation was open, and that a Sunshine law request may be submitted after the investigation closes. Police Chief Joe Chase told The Salem News that the facility passed the inspection, with one recommendation made by the Department of Agriculture to apply water sealant to the concrete floors. Chase allowed The Salem News inside the facility on June 30. There were no animals inside the facility at that time, and there was evidence that the city had begun working on applying the water sealant. The kennels that are used regularly were in good shape, clean, and shaded. “lick-valve” style water spigots were installed and working to provide water for the animals.
Murphy discussed the excessive heat that has hit the area lately and asked for considerations to be made for the temperature of the animals and asked for a public written policy outlining the care of the animals.
Later in the meeting, the board discussed the proposed Resolution 23-2023, which accepts the new agreement between DCAWS and the city.
“This is a non-negotiable decision made by our board member[sic] of directors,” reads the letter from DCAWS, which is publicly available, attached to the packet for the meeting on the city’s website.
City Administrator Burbridge expressed her frustration about the situation.
“The letter was delivered to us at the city admin building without discussion or conversation. Their board voted and then delivered it to us. So, I get the impression that we can take it or leave it. Which is a bit frustrating, because there are other aspects of this that are not brought out. Some of the things that we know have been happening over the years. Because DCAWS charges an intake fee for anyone who takes an animal there to drop them off, folks get there and decide ‘I don’t want to pay that’, and then they bring them from the county into the city to drop them off because they know we have animal control,” she said. “So, some of the animals that are going there, that we’re taking there, are inflating our numbers. They’re not originally from within the city, so that’s one issue.”
Burbridge said that a recent Facebook post by DCAWS had stated that the shelter was started in 1990 because of the conditions of the city pound. Burbridge said that though she was not here at the time, it was her understanding that the city had provided a building in the industrial park to operate out of.
“They operated out of that building originally, and then they raised the funds and moved to their current facility south of town. So, they started as a partnership with the city. I become a little frustrated, because again, no communication, no discussion about what would be mutually best for both parties. Just, ‘here’s an agreement, take it or leave it,” she said.
Aldermen Williams and Bolerjack suggested having the city attorney look at the agreement before a vote is taken to accept.
“That would definitely increase the animal control expense for next year,” said Williams.
“We probably need to table this,” said Bolerjack, who then made a motion to do so. The motion passed 3-0, tabling the discussion.
