By David Fenker
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – Beginning May 1, North Manchester will once again have animal shelter services.
The town council approved a one-year agreement for such services with the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County at its April 11 meeting.
The town had been without animal shelter services since Feb. 1, when the Wabash County Animal Shelter ceased serving the town due to a funding disagreement.
“We’ve been in a bit of a situation regarding our animal control,” Council President Chalmer “Toby” Tobias said. “We’ve talked and worked with the Wabash County Animal Shelter and an agreement was not able to be reached satisfactory to both parties in that discussion, so at that time, we did move forward with [AWL].”
Under the agreement with Pierceton-based AWL, North Manchester residents may surrender animals to the shelter without paying its standard $50 per pet out-of-county fee if they have the proper form from the town.
The town will reimburse AWL $75 per dog and $50 per cat surrendered at AWL by North Manchester residents with the drop off form.
The shelter’s business hours are 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday. Outdoor kennels with inboxes for the drop off form will also be provided “in decent weather,” according to the agreement.
“They were more than willing to help us out,” Town Manager Adam Penrod said.
He noted that the shelter can hold nearly 200 animals, and is in the process of building a new shelter with double that capacity.
The agreement provided for re-negotiation of the price after one year.
Additionally, Kosciusko County’s animal control officer has agreed to assist North Manchester with stray animals.
“If there’s a stray animal in town, we encourage residents that see the stray animal to call the police department,” Penrod said. “[Kosciusko County’s ACO] would be willing to help us out ot transport the animal if we don’t have the means to … we’re very thankful for that.”
The council also adopted a resolution approving a preliminary plat for the Ninth Street housing addition, approved by the town’s plan commission March 26.
Additional business included an Arbor Day proclamation, closing out two of the town’s bank accounts and the third and final reading of a revision to the police donation fund.
For more, see the April 18 issue of the News-Journal.