By Cheryl Conway
Mt. Olive Twp. had to change its impoundment services for lost animals this year but officials are realizing a closer facility could be considered down the road.
A professional services contract for veterinary and kenneling services was authorized on January 25 between Mt. Olive Twp. and Common Sense for Animals in Stewartsville. Its previous contract with Animal Hospital of Roxbury could not be renewed as those services were no longer being provided.
Some residents who recently learned about this change found fault with several issues such as the distance and expensive fees for impoundment. Finding a facility closer to Mt. Olive that can provide these same services would make the most common sense, they say.
The “cat got out of the bag,” about the new impoundment contract after a Budd Lake resident lost her cat in February. On March 1, Jennifer Hannon announced on the Mt. Olive N.J. Community Page that her cat Willy was home but ended up all the way at the pound in Stewartsville. He wound up being picked up by the Mt. Olive Animal Control officer and driven to the pound 45 minutes away.
Residents were shocked to learn via Facebook that the town now uses a new pound further away. While they were happy for this resident and her reunion with her cat, they were also dismayed that she had to pay $20 per day that he was impounded.
Heidi Caruso, president of Mt. Olive Kiwanis, commented on Hannon’s post in order to “help folks pay attention to some of these new changes and to start asking questions. We need more residents involved.”
On Facebook, Caruso writes: "To have to find out that he was sent all the way to Stewartsville to Common Sense for Animals is ridiculous. I wonder how many in our town are aware that this change? I also wonder how many people know how much you were charged to get him back?"
In a follow up interview with Mt. Olive Online, Caruso explains her concerns.
“I am absolutely concerned about the distance to Stewartsville because I do believe there are more local options that may not have been explored yet,” says Caruso. “There is a network of us who could help explore those options, but we haven’t been asked. We don’t need to work for the town to get involved with this, we are always willing to help the Animal Control dept. We are never asked.
“I’d like to know where the $20/day fee comes from exactly?” she asks. “If I missed the announcement of the impoundment changes, then it’s my mistake. However, I believe there was surprise from a few key people I know, about the fact that impoundment was no longer at Roxbury Animal Hospital and animals would be sent to Common Sense for Animals. How were folks to know?”
Other concerns besides distance and expensive fee include: Lack of awareness of where lost pet went; extra cost in gas, mileage, hours for Animal Control Officer transporting animals to pound, which could raise taxes; cost to residents who have to drive that far to pick up their lost animal; destination and life expectancy of lost pet if not claimed within seven days.
Derrick Webb, deputy director of Health/assistant health officer, provides some answers to these concerns.
“We were notified toward the end of 2021 that our current provider will no longer be offering the service which promoted the Health Department to start looking for other providers,” says Webb. “The Animal Hospital of Roxbury decided to phase out providing kenneling/veterinary services to municipal government agencies,” he says.
Webb explains that Mt. Olive had no other place to turn to house Mt. Olive’s lost cats and dogs.
“The township approached several kennels and veterinary practices to provide this service, however, Common Sense for Animals was the only one that was interested,” says Webb. “The current contract is for one year and we will seek alternative options toward the end of the year.”
Professional Service agreements are voted by the council at the recommendation of the health department.
“It was passed unanimously along with all the other 27 resolutions,” confirms Mt. Olive Twp. Business Administrator Andrew Tatarenko. See resolution #12 which states “Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Mt. Olive Authorizing the Award of a Professional Services Agreement for Impoundment and Veterinary Services to Animal Health Center. 1_25_2022_pm.pdf (mountolivetwpnj.org)
Not realizing residents are unhappy with this change, Tatarenko and Webb say they can explore other options for next year.
“We really tried everything to keep things closer and will continue to look,” says Tatarenko.
Webb did say the pet owner will have to drive to Common Sense Animals to pick up their lost pet. He does not think fewer pets will be reclaimed because of the inconvenience of driving further to pick up lost pets.
Webb offers some advice to pet owners: “Contact Animal Control to discuss the procedure and cost associated with reclaiming the pet. It is highly recommended that residents license their pets with the health department to assist with their return home as oppose to the animal being transported to the kennel. If licensed, make sure to attach a current metal license tag to your pet's collar. Microchipping your pet will also assist Animal Control with identifying the homes of missing pets.”
As far as being charged $20 a day for an impoundment fee, Tatarenko says “I am not aware of any complaints in regard to the impoundment fee. Most pet owners are thankful the township actually found their animal and took care of it. The impoundment fee is the same from our prior contract with the Animal Hospital of Roxbury. Basically, the Vet/Impound facility sets the rate and we pass that down to the pet owner.”
Tatarenko says he is looking into whether the township is in compliance with New Jersey State statute in regard to impoundment fees.
“I also need to reiterate, if a lost animal is properly licensed, we do not take the animal to the impound facility,” says Tatarenko. “Pet owners need to be accountable for their actions as well.”
While council members did vote unanimously to change the impoundment services, they did not respond to these concerns and directed any questions to the Mt. Olive Board of Health and township business administrator.
“Our Health Officer informed the BOH on October 20th that the Animal Hospital of Roxbury did not intend to renew the contract and that a new location for impound services was being looked into,” explains Tatarenko. “In addition, the December BOH report stated that a contract is currently being executed with Common Sense for Animals for sheltering services.”
Councilwoman Colleen Labow who sits on the Board of Health and reports back to the council, did not comment on the change.
“Andrew Tataranko is the best person to interview regarding the temporary switch with our impoundment facility,” says Labow. “I knew that Dr. Elia was planning on eliminating impoundment options from her vet hospital, however, I did not know at what point she was planning on stopping impoundment options and if was for just some towns or all towns.”
Council President Joe Nicastro says: “I voted on this with the recommendation from our health department. They are the experts, and I usually will go with their recommendations.” As far as impoundment fee charges, Nicastro says “I will check into that with our health department.”
Responses To Concerns
When an animal goes missing, the township will continue to advertise to try to find its owner.
“Regardless of the location of the kenneling facility, the Health Department conducts public posting on Facebook, and shares information about impounded animals with a network of rescue groups,” says Webb. “This is not a new process; the Health Department has engaged in this practice for several years.”
Where will the animals go post-impoundment? What is the plan for those animals? “Animal will be impounded until placement is found for them; CSA has and will continue to assist with the placement of unclaimed animals,” says Webb. “The Health Department has and will continue to make arrangements with rescues with regards to placement accommodations, when necessary.”
The Mt. Olive Health Department did consider other options for impoundment services, but went with Common Sense for Animals as its best option for now. “St. Hubert’s was considered,” says Webb, but “they were uninterested in providing the services that the Health Department was seeking.”
Randolph was also considered for kenneling services but “the municipality was not interested in providing kenneling services to Mt. Olive,” says Webb.
As far as any extra cost to the town in terms of gas, mileage, labor and after hours for the animal control officer, Webb says “an analysis was not conducted.”
There is a bright side: “Entering into a Professional Service Agreement with Common Sense for Animals (CSA) has afforded the township to continue to provide animal control and rabies control operations, while exploring more convenient accommodations,” says Webb. “CSA has also assisted the municipality with the placement of unclaimed/strayed animals.”
