Proposed dog ordinance leashed - at least for now

A proposed dog ordinance for Crow Wing County's Unorganized Territory was muzzled Tuesday.

Commissioners tabled consideration of the proposed ordinance after reviewing and rejecting bids for services. No members of the general public addressed the board during a public hearing on the issue.

The county's dog ordinance, which has been the subject of debate for years because of cost and township participation, will end with 2009.

Townships may contract for services independently just as some area cities do.

The county was considering providing a dog ordinance to cover Unorganized Territory as the county acts as the town board.

But looking at historic data for the number of dog control calls, the county could be faced with a bill of about $600 per dog call.

Dog control officer Don Hannahs Jr. provided a bid for services at $570 per month plus mileage for $6,840 per year - with mileage that will be $7,325. Heartland Animal Rescue Team bid $2,500 per month to act as the dog holding facility.

Between the two bids, the total estimated annual cost is $37,325.

In 2008, the dog control officer had 47 calls about dogs in Unorganized Territory and 12 dogs were taken to HART. So far this year, there were 55 calls and 16 dogs taken to HART.

If 55 calls were received in 2010, the cost would be about $679 per dog. If 16 dogs were taken to HART, the cost per dog would be about $2,332.

In 2008, the countywide dog ordinance cost the county about $70,000. The county collected about $30,000 from participating townships. So far this year, the county cost is about $54,000 with incoming revenues of $15,392. Expectations are to exceed $70,000 in dog ordinance costs by year's end.

After cutting staff by 10 percent and with all the human services to provide, Tim Houle, county administrator, said the dog control costs raise a discussion about priorities.

The dog control officer assists the sheriff's department in removing dogs from homes where the owner died or in traffic stops when animals are in the car.

Citations may be issued for barking dogs or unleashed dogs. Currently those fine payments go to the court system and have not numbered more than a handful recently. The sheriff's department continues to handle dangerous dog calls, although the dog control office was typically called to transport the dog.

Sheriff Todd Dahl said it's a frustrating topic that has been discussed a long time. The county gets a number of calls about dog complaints, Dahl said, and deputies are not allowed by regulation to transport those dogs in a squad car.

The board voted to table consideration of the dog ordinance indefinitely and reject all bids.

Commissioner Paul Thiede said while no one attended the public hearing he believed there is interest in the topic.

"This is an expensive proposition to take up no matter how we do it," Thiede said. "There may be some creative solutions out there that we're not even looking at."

He suggested waiting to see what followed the board conversation, noting residents may be watching the meeting at home.

"Maybe you want to appeal directly to the TV audience," said Commissioner Rachel Reabe Nystrom.

"I'm rarely one that wants to do that here," Thiede said. "It's not my intention. I'm just pointing out that it is an advantage that we have."

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.