West Springfield Mayor Edward Gibson has proposed his city join with Agawam and Westfield in a plan to send stray dogs to Westfield's dog pound.
WEST SPRINGFIELD –The Town Council Tuesday will discuss and possibly vote on a proposal by the mayor to join a pact with Agawam and Westfield that would allow it to send its stray dogs to Westfield’s pound.
Approval of the program would provide the community with a place to send its stray dogs for the first time since July 1, when the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center in Springfield ended its agreement with the city.
Mayor Edward J. Gibson said Friday that Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik will attend Tuesday’s meeting to outline the services at his community’s dog pound as well as to answer questions. Gibson expressed optimism that the council will approve the agreement.
The situation in West Springfield has nettled local animal lovers, in particular Lucy Lukiwsky, who has spoken out about the issue at numerous Town Council meetings.
Lukiwsky said Friday she will once again criticize Gibson’s handling of the situation when the council meets Tuesday.
“I feel the mayor is doing the least he can do. I think that he is just doing what he is required to do. ... He is just trying not to spend money,” Lukiwsky said.
She would like to see the city go back to using the O’Connor facility because unlike the Westfield pound it has a foster home program to rehabilitate stray dogs to ready them for adoption. Lukiwsky said most strays need to be socialized before being placed and that the Westfield program will euthanize stray dogs judged not ready for adoption after 10 days.
The mayor has recommended the city join with Westfield and Agawam because it would cost an estimated $10,000 to $20,000 a year less than using the O’Connor dog pound. That facility has offered to take stray dogs at its old rate of $2.50 per city resident. Last year, West Springfield paid the Springfield dog pound about $73,000.
The proposed pact calls for Agawam and West Springfield to pay Westfield $875 a month each for rent and utilities at that city’s shelter. Dog owners would be charged fees of $15 a day per animal prior to their dogs being released.
At the end of 10 days, unclaimed dogs the Westfield animal control officer judges suitable for adoption would be put into the Westfield Animal Shelter Adoption Program. Dogs determined not to be adoptable would become the responsibility of each community.
Agawam and West Springfield would each pay Westfield $9,708 to cover costs for improvements needed at the animal shelter to house the increased dog population upon signing the agreement.