Township, county partner on animal shelters

By Lisa Brody

Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously approved a renewal of an interlocal agreement between Oakland County's animal shelter and the township for appropriate services and necessary disposal at their meeting on Monday, July 10.

According to Bloomfield Township Police Chief James Gallagher, because the township has its own animal shelter, there isn't a lot of need to utilize the county's animal shelter. However, “We have such a good relationship with Oakland County, we have a lot of give and take with them,” he said.

Gallagher noted costs at the county shelter have risen, including for care of animals, disposal of both live and dead animals, and rabies specimens for live and dead animals. According to a letter from Oakland County Division Manager Robert Gatt, “There are several contributing factors behind the increase in costs. However, the most significant is the loss of jail trustees to provide janitorial services for the shelter free of charge due to COVID restrictions. Since the start of the COVID pandemic, the county has had to pay nearly $500,000 per year in additional costs to a contractor to fill this gap in service.”