EVERETT — Two more animal control officers will be hired later this year by Snohomish County to tackle a rising number of animal complaints in unincorporated areas.
The County Council on Wednesday approved $62,000 in emergency spending to hire the animal control officers this year. Once training is completed, officers could be on the road in January.
“We’re in such desperate need of new officers,” said county Auditor Carolyn Diepenbrock, whose department oversees animal control. “We’re very excited to be at full staff and provide the level of service that customers expect and we want to be able to provide.”
The department has been understaffed for years, Diepenbrock said.
Animal control received more than 10,000 complaints in 2006, and had only four officers working weekdays to handle the most serious calls.
The officers were able to respond, investigate and resolve nearly 4,700 cases last year, but nearly 6,000 complaints went unanswered.
It took about two years of pleading for more funding and showing the increased number of complaints before county officials agreed, Diepenbrock said.
The County Council voted last year to boost the team to six officers, and with Wednesday’s vote the department heads toward creating an eight-person team.
That brings the department closer to its goal of offering services seven days a week. Officers currently only work weekdays.
According to state law, officers must respond immediately to injured animals, loose livestock, a vicious animal that is threatening a person and dog bites or attacks.
Calls about dead animals or stray or barking dogs get almost no response.
Managers argued that intense population growth has spurred the number of animal control complaints. Full salaries and trucks for the officers will be requested as part of the 2008 budget.
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