County approves new fees for stray dogs

The Jones County Supervisors approved some changes to the county’s contract with the Animal Welfare Friends Shelter in Monticello. The changes only pertain to stray dogs.

The fee for the Jones County Sheriff’s Department to pick up stray dogs in rural areas of the county will increase from $25 to $35 a day, Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fee jumps to $75 after business hours.

In addition, the boarding fee was set at $15 a day for up to seven days at the shelter.

During the board’s Feb. 4 meeting, Sheriff Greg Graver and County Attorney Kristofer Lyons met with the board to iron out the details of the contract.

“Before now, we always had a verbal agreement,” said Graver. “AWF has now presented us with a contract.”

Graver admitted something needs to be in place when it comes to the county picking up stray dogs and bringing them to the shelter.

“We need to know our expectations on both sides,” he said of the parties involved. “It’s a benefit to the county to have a contract with AWF.”

“Are we legally obligated to pick up these dogs?” asked Supervisor Ned Rohwedder.

“We’re obligated whether you decide it’s legal or moral,” said Graver. “We’re obligated from a public safety standpoint.”

In addition to the changes in fees, Graver is also proposing changes to the language of the contract. In the past, the county paid to pick up stray dogs in the contract towns in Jones County. That will change.

“The only time the county will pay is if the dog has to be euthanized,” explained Graver.

The county also pays to cover the cost of shots for the dogs.

“They can’t be adopted out without their shots,” said Graver. “That’s in the code.”

Lyons said if the dogs have their shots when they come to the shelter, it’s a faster, more efficient, and cheaper adoption process as well for everyone involved.

Graver said he planned to attend the next AWF meeting to present the contract changes.