Regional Services
Regional Animal Control Planning
Project Overview
The FRCOG completed a report on interest, options and recommendations for regional or shared animal control in Franklin County. Based on the findings of this report, interest from communities in the County, and interest from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, an Animal Control Task Force was convened. Participants include representatives from: Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Colrain, Deerfield, Erving, Greenfield, Gill, Heath, Montague, Northfield, Orange, Shelburne, Whately, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Better Than Dead Animal Rescue, and the FRCOG. The goal of the Task Force is to develop a regional dog control program based at the Sheriff’s Office to assist communities in providing a professional and efficient dog control service and regional kennel.
Current Activities
The Sheriff’s Office has begun work on repairing and improving the Turners Falls kennel to make it suitable for a regional kennel. 11 towns in Franklin County have signed the MOU with the Sheriff’s Office to participate in the Regional Kennel. FRCOG staff applied for funding from the Massachusetts Community Innovation Challenge Grant to support startup and implementation costs. Applications are currently being reviewed. Applicants will be notified of their status some time in February.
A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between interested towns and the Sheriff’s Office is available. A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers is available. Minutes from the Task Force meetings are available for Fiscal Year 2011 and Fiscal Year 2012.
Future Plans
The Sheriff’s Office has posted a job announcement for the position of Director of Dog Control & Adoption Center. A detailed job description is available on their website, www.fcso-ma.us/careers.html.
Please contact Ted Harvey with any questions.
This page was last updated on 04/30/2012