Animal Control Adds Sat. Hours, Part-Time Employee

BERLIN – Officials at Worcester County Animal Control are hoping new Saturday hours will enable them to serve the community better.

Starting Nov. 15, the Worcester County Animal Control office on Timmons Road in Snow Hill will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will also be open those hours on some holidays.

“It makes it more convenient for people,” said Sue Rantz, chief animal control officer for Worcester County.

Rantz said the office was able to fill a part-time position funded by the county this year to offer the expanded hours. In the past, the office has only been open Monday through Friday and couldn’t accommodate those who work through the week.

Rantz is hoping the additional hours will give more people the chance to visit animal control to adopt a pet —an opportunity many don’t know exists.

“There are some people that aren’t aware that animal control does adoptions,” she said.

Officers at Worcester County Animal Control do as much as they can to find homes for the lost and stray animals that are picked up throughout the county. Rantz said that after animal control officers pick up a stray dog or cat, the animal is held for 10 days. Following that it is typically put up for adoption.

Rantz said the agency puts very few animals to sleep. In cases where an animal is not adopted quickly, animal control will work with local humane societies and adoption agencies to find it a home.

“If it’s a nice dog, we try all avenues,” Rantz said.

Many dogs that aren’t actually strays but are just lost pets have been redeemed by their owners this year thanks to the agency’s new presence on Facebook. When a dog or cat is picked up by animal control officers, they post its photo as well as where it was found on Facebook. The agency also posts photos of pets available for adoption on its Facebook page.

Rantz said the social media site has been great communication tool. On Tuesday, for example, a photo of a beagle posted by the agency caught the attention of a woman in Crisfield who had lost her dog several weeks ago.

“It wasn’t hers,” Rantz said, “but the interest and exposure is there.”

A lot of times even if the animal’s owner doesn’t use Facebook, a friend or family member does and lets them know if their pet’s photo appears.

“Word of mouth is great,” Rantz said.

Rantz also wants to remind area residents that animal control continues to offer the low-cost spay and neuter service it launched in 2011. The service costs $50 for cats and $100 for dogs, although there is a weight restriction of 60 pounds for female dogs. Rantz said pet owners should call animal control to get an appointment.