Farmington Town Board members hope to work with the Waupaca County Humane Society to handle stray cats.
At its monthly meeting Monday, Dec. 20, the board discussed a possible contract with the Humane Society.
“I’m concerned that we have nowhere to take stray cats in the town of Farmington,” said Laura Bailey, a Farmington citizen.
After describing her own experience rescuing a kitten that had been abandoned, Bailey said the Humane Society is required by state law to have a contract with any municipality from which it takes stray animals.
“It’s a situation that we have to take care of,” Town Chairman Dale Trinrud said.
Trinrud said he received a number of calls from town residents regarding stray cats.
“Diane Neelis (Farmington’s humane officer) handles the dogs and has done it for years,” Trinrud said. “She’s not set up to take care of the cats.”
Trinrud said he spoke with Monica Gates at the Humane Society and was waiting to hear from the group’s board of directors regarding a contract to take just cats from the town of Farmington. He said the society normally contracts to take all of a municipality’s stray animals.
The Humane Society would charge the town $90 for each stray cat brought to the shelter. If a town resident brings in a litter of kittens, the town would be charged $90 for the first three kittens and $180 for up to five kittens.
“I know it’s a lot of money,” Trinrud said, adding that he has been trying to find homes for stray cats for several months and “I’ve run out of friends.”
Town board members do not know what the annual cost would be for a contract with the Humane Society since it will be determined by the number of stray cats. And the board did not include funding for a contract in its 2011 budget. However, the board plans to use its contingency fund to pay the Humane Society.
Trinrud said the board could review the costs after a year.
The board will have a copy of the contract to discuss at its January board meeting.
Caucus
The town of Farmington will hold its annual caucus at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at the town hall on State Highway 54 and County Road Q.