New Animal Advisory Board to Hold First Meeting

COURT HOUSE – The new, all-volunteer Middle Township Animal Advisory Board has scheduled its first meeting for June 24 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held inside the conference room at the Middle Township Municipal Complex in Cape May Court House.
“This is one of the most important public safety initiatives the Township has initiated in recent memory”, said Middle Township Mayor Tim Donohue. “The rights of domestic pets and other animals in the Township and the rights and safety of members of the public will be balanced by the efforts of our new Animal Advisory Board”.
The Board was created via ordinance by the Middle Township Committee last month. It consists of Township officials and safety experts as well as volunteer members of the general public. Among the Township officials serving on the Board are Captain John Edwards of the Middle Township Police Department; Bill Candell, Animal Control Officer; and Dawn Stimmel, who will serve as the secretary for the Board. The Board is chaired by Madelyn McCarrol and also includes local veterinarian Dr. David Hirsch.
“The first course of action by the Board will be to identify areas of improvement regarding animal-related issues that face our community”, Mayor Donohue said. “We are consistently reviewing all policies and procedures in every facet of government and I’m certain the Board will guide the Township Committee in making the right decisions for the public, and for our animals”.
In 2014, Middle Township distributed information during the winter months regarding the importance of protecting domestic pets from frigid temperatures. Middle Township also held two successful rabies clinics at the Public Works Facility, and enacted a State-mandated dog census. The Township also ended shared services agreements with other communities to ensure that the focus of the Middle Township Department of Animal Control is entirely focused on the Township.
For additional information, please visit www.middletownship.com.