Auburn Animal Control by the numbers, April to June

The biggest Auburn's issue ACO tussled with between April and June was obtuse animal owners who did not license their dog or cat or get the pets their rabies license.

By Robert Whale • July 16, 2014 5:45 pm

One complaint Animal Control Officer George Winner has fielded lately is about roosters inside city limits, jarring residents from slumber with their by-the-dawn’s-early-light, if-you-don’t-do something-I’m-gonna-brain-that-bird cock-a-doodling.

Of course, as ACO, Winner also has to catch critters on the loose, enforce animal control ordinances and assure proper licensing of applicable animals. On one occasion, the call of the wild saw him transport an abandoned baby raccoon to South Sound Critter Care.

But the biggest issue Auburn’s ACO tussled with between April and June was obtuse animal owners who did not license their dogs or cats or get the pets their rabies license.

Police Chief Bob Lee presented City leaders these stats, among many others, Monday in a report titled, “Animal Control Operations-2nd quarter review, April-June 2014,” coupling his presentation with high praise for the City’s ACO.

“George is just an awesome addition to the City,” Lee said of Winner. “He’s in and out like the wind. He is a hard worker and loves animals. We are very fortunate to have him.”

Here is what the report has to say about animal control-related calls for service, comparing the second quarters of 2013 and 2014.

• 911 dispatched calls for service: 134, up 50.6 percent.

• Calls residents make directly to the ACO: 123, down 43.1 percent.

• Calls self-initiated by the ACO as he is driving around: 74, up 45.1 percent.

• Wildlife-related calls: 1, down 92.9 percent.

• Calls for service by other police officers to the ACO: 8, up 33.3 percent

• Deceased domestic animal calls: 15, up 25 percent.

• Total percentage of decrease or increase between the second quarters: down 8.5 percent

The report also details the number of animal control reports, citations and infractions issued, as follows:

• Contacts with residents in person, by phone or via email: down 10.1 percent.

• Police reports written: up 50 percent

• Animals impounded: up 68.8 percent