Sparta Changing Up Animal Control Role

Sparta Public Works is searching for a dog catcher after taking over Animal Control responsibilities from the Sparta Police Department.

Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the Police Department’s full-time dog catcher only had to catch 27 dogs last year. He said the department wanted to use the dog catcher as a backup officer, but he was not certified.

“So that person, you know, will be mainly working with the street department,” Quick said. “But when we have a dog that we have to go pick up, then that person will, of course, leave and go take care of what needs to be taken care of and then come back to the Street Department.”

Quick said the space used as a dog pound at the Police Department was far too big for the number of dogs being caught. He said creating a more versatile position will allow more productivity outside of Animal Control duties.

“We don’t catch that many dogs inside city limits at this point, so we don’t need a very big building to take care of the ones that we have to house,” Quick said.

He said the worker will help oversee a new facility at the Public Works headquarters on South Carter Street when it is built in July.

“It just was prudent to move the position over to the Street Department so we could use that person in Public Works,” Quick said.