Animal control cuts could mean less service

A recent sweltering weekend brought reports of dogs left in overheated cars. Another call involved a dachshund and a Weimaraner blocking traffic. Then a tied-up kitten.

The three animal control deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office respond to thousands of calls for service each year. But planned budget cuts will leave one of those deputies facing the calls alone.

“What that will mean exactly is probably yet to be seen, because we haven't been down to one deputy yet,” said Deputy Dwes Hutson, Sheriff's Office spokesman. “But what we're anticipating is that one deputy is not going to be able to respond to 5,000-plus calls per year.”

That's what representatives of animal welfare groups fear. They are afraid that suspected cases of animal neglect and abuse may go without proper scrutiny, that more dogs will run at large, that vicious dogs might have more chances to bite.

The decision to cut two-thirds of the animal control division was a difficult one, said Sheriff John Hanlin at a hearing last month before the Douglas County Budget Committee. The layoffs were part of the Board of Commissioners' call for 10 percent cuts for each county department as a result of declining federal timber safety net revenue.

After cuts in recent years, Hanlin said he had no choice but to cut more personnel. His priorities included keeping 24-hour patrol service and keeping the jail open at full capacity.

Public safety, Hanlin said, would have to take precedence over pet safety. But to those in the animal world, the two are one in the same.

BARKING DOGS VS. DOG BITES

When the new fiscal year starts July 1, it will be the first time Deputy Lee Bartholomew has been the only animal control officer with the department since he began working there in 1990.

“I think the lowest we've ever been was three,” Bartholomew said.

Like now, the more serious calls, such as dog bites, vicious animals, and serious neglect and abuse cases, will take priority, Hutson expects. But the less serious calls may go unanswered even with patrol deputies picking up some of the slack.

“We're going to try to answer every call,” he said.

Currently, the Sheriff's Office provides animal control services to the entire county, except for Reedsport, Winston and Myrtle Creek, where local police departments handle their own animal problems.

Bartholomew expects to continue assisting Roseburg, Sutherlin and Oakland with top priority calls. And he figures he might be receiving more calls from officers for advice.

“They call me as it is now, even on my days off,” he said.

The animal control officers are specially trained in their field. Bartholomew, for instance, has a bachelor's degree in animal science, and has received training in animal cruelty cases and training from the Oregon Animal Control Council and the National Animal Control Academy.

Roseburg patrol officers, said Roseburg Police Capt. Jerry Matthews, are accustomed to handling barking dog calls in the city, but they will still look to the county for help with serious calls.

“We'll have to be, obviously, cognizant of their limited resources,” he said.

Though he's not anticipating large changes, Matthews said if the animal control cuts have a bigger impact than expected, the department may need to look into additional training for officers or other solutions.

Following is a breakdown of cuts to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in the 2009-10 budget. • Two animal control deputies • Two civilian booking clerks • One civilian administrative assistant in the Douglas County Jail • One records position • One weigh master • A sergeant's position eliminated through attrition • Cuts to the court security program

CONCERNS

Samantha Lea, board president for New Beginnings SPCA in Roseburg, worries that animal complaints won't be a high priority for other police officers handling property crimes or crimes against other people.

“Their main focus is not going to be on the animals,” she said.

Jim Dohr, vice-president of training at the Oregon Animal Control Council, said he understands the Sheriff's Office is facing financial constraints. But other agencies are already stretched thin, he said, and now they will have to deal with additional animal calls.

With resources low, the concern is that more animals will suffer. According to the Sheriff's Office, the three animal control deputies responded to about 600 reports of animal neglect or abuse, or animals that were abandoned last year.

And animal welfare representatives say such cases tend to rise in times of economic struggle.

“There may be more cases of neglect and abandonment that are not able to be addressed or followed up on,” said Michelle Hengel, director of the Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center in Winchester, who worries also that the number of strays will rise.

Dohr is concerned that animal cruelty cases may slip through the cracks. Animal cruelty can be a precursor to violence against people, Dohr said. He worries that if those who hurt animals are not stopped, their violent behavior will escalate.

Dohr urged county officials to reconsider the cuts.

“People are really serious about their pets. They're very concerned about their animals,” he said. “And by cutting animal control, we're failing to provide them with a service that's important to them.”

A CALL TO THE COMMUNITY

Bartholomew and Hutson said with strained resources, community members can help out by taking more responsibility for their animals.

Animal control deputies responded to 466 reports of barking dogs last year. If people would keep their dogs from barking excessively, keep them from trespassing, or digging through the neighbor's garbage, Hutson said the department would have far fewer calls to handle.

“There are going to be times undoubtedly when people are going to call in with those types of calls,” Hutson said, “and we just are not going to have somebody available.”

Bartholomew and Hutson also remind community members that Rover is probably happier left at home rather than baking in a car in a grocery store parking lot. Animal owners should also limit themselves to the number of pets they can actually care for properly.

A reduction in such calls will mean Bartholomew can focus on the most serious cases.

Bartholomew said those who witness animal problems should take down as many details as possible without getting directly involved. That way, the information can be passed on to him, and he can try to follow up on it later.

Bartholomew plans to maintain his emphasis on educating people about animal welfare, and Hutson figures counseling people on how to be responsible animal owners will be especially beneficial now.

“We're probably going to have to remind people of that as we go through this process,” Hutson said.

• You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@nrtoday.com.