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An Important Update: <br />In cooperation with the Companion Animal Control Agreement, your municipality currently impounds <br />animals under contract with Otter Lake Animal Care in Hugo. However, due to staffing challenges and <br />inadequate building space for housing impound animals the clinic has determined they are no longer able <br />to provide animal impound services as of January 1st, 2025. This was an unanticipated change, so to <br />ensure animals have a safe place to go we've secured impound space with Northwoods Humane Society <br />(NHS) in Wyoming, MN. This is an interim solution; NHS will serve as the impound until construction of <br />the Companion Animal Center in Oakdale is complete in May 2025. <br />This means the Companion Animal Impound Service Agreement is to become effective January 1st <br />instead of waiting until May 2025. The final version of this agreement is designed to save <br />municipalities impound costs. Please add this item to your December consent agenda to ensure <br />signatures by January 1st, so animal control services in your community can continue as normal. <br />Once the Companion Animal Center is complete in May, 2025 this contract will remain in effect and <br />there will not be any need for an additional or modified contract. <br /> <br />About the Companion Animal Care Impound Service Agreement: <br />The locations for animal impounding in Washington County, MN is extremely limited, the CAC agreement <br />will provide affordable services to municipalities through lower per-animal fees and affordable monthly <br />retainers based on the human population of each jurisdiction. This ensures that kennel spaces are held <br />empty to be available for impound animals from contract municipalities. Based on CAC data from 2023, <br />the CAC contract on average reduces annual costs to municipalities by $1,200. Comparison below: <br />Alternative Impound Services Companion Animal Care Services <br />Unclaimed animals $232-$285 per animal Owner- <br />claimed animals $28-$35 administrative fee <br />charged to the municipality <br />Unclaimed animals $200 per animal Owner- <br />claimed animals $0 administrative fee charged to <br />the municipality <br />Additional fee of $75 per day for housing <br />dangerous or aggressive animals Stray bite <br />quarantine fee of $630, charged to municipalities <br />regardless of fees paid by owner <br />No additional fees for aggressive or dangerous <br />animals Bite quarantine required to be paid by <br />owner in advance to avoid municipality fees, stray <br />bite quarantine $500 <br />Owner information provided to municipality <br />quarterly, limiting ability to invoice owners for <br />restitution of costs <br />Owner information provided to municipality <br />monthly, enhancing ability to invoice owners for <br />restitution of costs <br /> <br />All communication and invoicing will still come from CAC, so if you have any questions or concerns, <br />please let me know as soon as possible. <br />Brit Harmon, MPA, NCACO, WCHO <br />Companion Animal Companies <br /> www.companionanimalcontrol.com <br /> (715) 220-1332 <br />