Saturday, August 30, 2008

Sheriff says county lacks animal control equipment, officers

Nat Holland El Defensor Chieftain Reporter, nholland@dchieftain.com

The Socorro County Commission opened the Tuesday, Aug. 26, meeting with a moment of silence for two longtime residents who died recently — John Gallagher and Orville Moore.

The commission discussed the issue of lack of enforcement of the county's animal control ordinance with Sheriff Phillip Montoya.

Montoya cited lack of equipment, a place to house animals and trained officers as obstacles to enforcing the ordinance.

"It should be something built into your budget," Commission Chairman Jay Santillanes told Montoya.

Montoya responded that his budget request for part-time help to fill the animal control position had been turned down.

The ordinance, "came into effect in '98 and I've been working here since '98, and as far as I know the position has never been provided for," Montoya said.

"If the money is available, are you willing to appoint and train an officer?" asked Commissioner Charles Gallegos.

"If you can provide me the means, then sure," Montoya responded.

Commission Phillip Anaya suggested that finger pointing between the Commission and the Sheriff needs to stop, and that a real solution needs to be found.

A quick solution did not present itself at the meeting, however.

Longtime Animal Protective Association of Socorro volunteer Dorothy Brook told the commission that general animal control training cost about $300 and was frequently available in Albuquerque. Brook also said the trailer that serves as an office for the City of Socorro's animal shelter was purchased in response to the 1998 ordinance.

Later in the meeting, the commission voted to add $50,000 for Animal Control Equipment to the county's Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan.

The due date for ICIP submissions was moved back to the end of September, according to Santillanes, so further ICIP requests could be accepted at the next commission meeting.

Another $30,000 request for a new heating and cooling system at the detention center was also added to the ICIP.

In other business: