The is no longer taking in abandoned or surrendered animals.
“They’ve become a little more selective,” First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr. said.
According to Haberek in recent years Stonington Animal Care and Control has a seen an influx of calls and having the animal control respond to every call about feral cats isn’t feasible.
The animal shelter located on Greenhaven Road in Pawcatuck is now only taking in roaming dogs, cats or dogs that are on quarantine, and some sick or injured cats.
“For the most part we no longer take in abandoned cats, orphaned kittens, or animals that have been surrendered by their owners,” Stonington Animal Control Officer Rae-Jean Davis said. “There is an exception made once in awhile though.”
The state of Connecticut does not have a roaming law for cats which means that animal control facilities are not suppose to pick up stray cats.
Haberek said the town has found that people who rent homes in the area for the summer or other vacations often get a pet such as cat and when the summer or their vacation ends they live it in the house.
According to Davis anyone needing to surrender an animal should contact the Connecticut Humane Society. Davis said budget concerns was the reason she was given for the change.
“Basically we are only doing what we are required to do by state statute,” Davis said. “I don’t make the rules. I just follow them.”
While the policy is new to Stonington it is not to other towns. In Groton the animal control office only accepts surrendered animals from Groton residents and only after all other options including contacting the Connecticut Humane Society, private rescue groups and putting an in the paper have been exhausted.
