Windsor Town Improvements Committee Will Discuss Rental of Windsor Locks' Dog Pound Space Tonight

The Windsor Town Improvements Committee will meet tonight to discuss the relocation of the town's dog pound facilities on Mechanic Street. If plans remain as they currently stand, the town of Windsor would subcontract space in the Windsor Locks dog pound, and reduce its 12 runs to five.

According to meeting documents prepared by Windsor Chief of Police Kevin Searles, plans to relocate Windsor's dog pound have been in the works since 2002. Plans for relocation are the result of an end to Bloomfield's rental of half of Windsor's space and plans to redevelop Mechanic Street to "enhance and strengthen Windsor Center."

Interest in the construction of a commuter rail and residential units on Mechanic Street have gained momentum, according to Searles, leading to the town's exploration of dog pound alternatives. Among those alternatives have been "regional dog pound approaches."

According to meeting documents, the town entered into conversations with multiple municipalities to address cost-saving measures and the enhancement of facility quality through a regional dog pound. The sole municipality that met "a mutual goal of sharing facilities and partnering in animal care was Windsor Locks."

At a Feb. 7 Windsor Town Council meeting, several members of the Friends of Windsor Dog Pound group criticized the proposed rental of Windsor Locks' pound space. Among their concerns were the possibility of a decline in the likelihood that Windsor residents would adopt dogs taken in by animal control because the pound in Windsor Locks is not conveniently located.

The dog pound currently costs the town of Windsor $12,500 to operate on an annual basis, not including personnel costs. Windsor has one animal control officer, Officer Brian Davis.

Rental of space in Windsor Locks would cost approximately $7,800 per year to rent five runs. An additional $20 per day would be charged for each additional run needed. In addition to the estimated $7,800 per year, the town would have to pay part-time employees or the animal control officer to maintain the rented runs on the weekends, which would cost about $3,600.

The special meeting, which will be held tonight, was granted to the Friends of Windsor Dog Pound upon request on Feb. 7. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Ludlow Room of Town Hall.