LUDLOW, Maine — Selectmen in Ludlow have changed direction on where they want to send stray animals.
According to Town Manager Diane Hines, selectmen fielded several concerns from members of the public over the decision made at the July 27 annual town meeting. At that meeting, residents decided to end the town’s relationship with the Houlton Humane Society and instead unanimously voted to switch to the Penobscot Valley Humane Society in Lincoln.
On Thursday, the board of selectmen decided it would be a better idea to send stray animals to the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle, but in order to do that, a special town meeting must be held.
“Legally, because of the wording of the warrant article at town meeting, we will have to hold a special town meeting to change it,” Hines said. “The community would prefer that we send our animals to Presque Isle instead of Lincoln.”
That special town meeting will take place Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m. prior to the regularly-scheduled board of selectmen’s meeting.
Last year, the town paid $2,484 to the Houlton shelter for its services of taking in stray or lost animals found within the town limits. By switching to Lincoln shelter, the town reduced its cost to $800 for the year. Hines said the shelter in Presque Isle will be even less than the cost of Lincoln, at $770, thus the town will continue to save even more money.
Hines said at the time of the July 27 town meeting, she was not aware that Ludlow could send its animals to the Central Aroostook Humane Society. But when the town approached the shelter, CAHS agreed to take their animals.
The CAHS charges $1.90 per capita for animals, while the Houlton Humane Society charges about $6 per capita, Hines said.
Dave Reardon serves as the Animal Control Officer for Ludlow. Hines said if Reardon picks up a stray dog, he will first make an effort to find the owner. If he takes an animal to Presque Isle, the town will pay mileage for that trip, as part of his contract agreement.
Hines said the switch to Presque Isle could result in a small increase to the ACO budget if there were an excessive number of trips made in the year. The town typically has very few stray dog complaints, she said.
The Houlton Humane Society is located five miles from the town, while the Penobscot shelter is 76 miles away. The Central Aroostook Humane Society is about 46 miles from the Ludlow Town Office.
“We are going to do everything we can first, so that we won’t have to take the animal anywhere,” Hines said. “The last choice will be to drive them to Presque Isle.”
