Freeholders, Towns Agree on Shelter Contract

CREST HAVEN — Ten municipalities that use the county’s animal shelter had freeholders approve, at the Oct. 28 meeting, their service agreements from Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2015.
Sending dogs and cats to the shelter are Avalon, Cape May Point, Lower, Middle and Upper townships, North Wildwood, Stone Harbor, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Woodbine.
For its part, the county agreed to provide humane treatment for all animals, provide medical treatment for cats and dogs and “provide additional medical care, including inoculations, to animals being offered for adoption.
“Other” domestic animals will be sheltered on a space-available basis.
The county also pledged to provide for municipal participation through continuation of an shelter advisory board.
That 11-member board is made up of two county administration members, two public citizens, one county-base veterinarian, four municipal government members, one member from each of the two municipalities which contribute the largest annual percentage of proposed budget for animal shelter services. Those members will be either elected officials or senior appointed managers of the respective municipality and two members from the remaining municipalities. In addition, the shelter manager, veterinarian of record and one municipal animal control officer.
Municipal appointments to the board would be confirmed by freeholders.
All municipalities will pay annual spay and neuter contributions that remain the same throughout the contract.
The operating contract is payable annually in four installments.
The following is the spay-neuter contribution followed by the range of operating contract totals from first to sixth contract year:
Avalon, $1,241, $7,446-$9,288.
Cape May Point, $140, $837-$1,045.
Lower Township, $13,287, $79,720-$99,448.
Middle Township, $9,500, $56,998-$71,103.
North Wildwood, $2,858, $17,146-$21,389.
Stone Harbor, $653, $3,919-$4,889.
Upper Township, $7,015, $42,092-$52,509.
Wildwood Crest, $2,305, $13,828-$17,250.
Wildwood, $3,148, $18,887-$23,561.
Woodbine, $1,573, $9,436-$11,772.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com