Battle Ground’s partnership with a local veterinarian’s office to house and look after lost dogs has ended, and city officials have a few options for city residents who come across a lost dog.
City Manager Erin Erdman said the city had contracts with both the local vet’s office and the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, and brought impounded animals to the vet’s office because it was closer. She said the office notified the city in mid-August it didn’t want to renew the contract.
The contract with the vet’s office cost the city $186.30 for each impounded dog brought in, according to the city’s 2019 fee schedule.
“It was pretty hit and miss,” Erdman said. “There were periods of time where we didn’t have any, and periods of time where we’d have three or four in a week.
“We just started talking to a couple of different organizations about somewhere we can take animals after hours and on weekends,” she said.
Anyone who finds or takes in a lost dog can report it to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. The society’s website has a lost pet form, southwesthumane.org/lost-found/found-pet-form.
Dogs can also be brought to the Humane Society Shelter, 1100 N.E. 192nd Ave., Vancouver. Residents whose dog is lost or missing can report it to the Humane Society at the organization’s lost pet form, southwesthumane.org/lost-found/lost-pet-form.
The city also wants residents to know to call 911 only if they see an injured or dangerous/vicious animal, as the police department does not have resources to send an officer out of the city to deliver every lost dog to the Humane Society.
“We have one code enforcement officer who does animal control,” Erdman said. “He does that while out doing code enforcement until 5 (p.m.) Monday through Friday. After hours, it’s all up to the police department.”
