Yuma, AZ January 5 - As of January 1st Animal Control Services has begun to take on responsibility for animal control within city limits.
John Allen, the ACS Supervisor for the City of Yuma says their goal is to reunite animals with their owners and enforce dog licensing and education. Allen says, "When the animals go to the Humane Society it incurs and expense to the city and to the owner and so we want to avoid both of those and our goal is to keep as few animals in the kennels as possible."
ACS is staffed with civilian employees ready to respond to calls involving disturbances, loose animals, animal cruelty, injuries and a variety of other situations having to do with domesticated pets. Allen says "We are either certified or going to be certified through the organization called the National Animal control association. We're the only certifying body in the U.S. But we are civilians granted authority to enforce City ordinances."
With ACS now in affect it allows the Humane Society of Yuma to focus on what their designed to do which is kenneling and the adoption of animals. Allen Tells News 13, "The difference really is who responds. The Humane Society of Yuma is a wonderful outfit, but they don't have the resources we have and they were covering the entire county of Yuma with limited resources. This gives us better resources. We have officers with in the city who respond to a reduced area and we also have the Yuma Police Department behind them."
ACS is also proud to introduce their Feral Cat Trap and Voucher Program. Allen says, "We went out and purchased cat traps that are available to the residents of Yuma free of charge. The process is they come in and get the cage from us, set it up in their yard or area, they capture the animal and bring it to us." Then a voucher may be given and will offset the fee for the intake of the cat by the Humane Society of Yuma.
If anyone would like to volunteer to help ACS you can do so by filling out an application in the front lobby of the Yuma Police Station. To get in contact with ACS you may call 928.783.4421
