Crime & Safety

New London: Let's Figure This Out, And Soon

Meanwhile, Waterford Remains Undecided

For months, much has been written about New London’s “philosophy” on its animal control shelter, and how it if the city plans to share a regional pound with Waterford and East Lyme. But really, the major problem that needs to be addressed is finances, and where this pound is going to be, New London City Manager Denise Rose said.

 “Can we afford it? Will it be centrally located?” Rose said. “These are the question that we are faced with, and the (New London City) Council is going to be concerned about.”

Rose, along with New London Police Chief Margaret Ackley, Deputy Chief Marshall Segar and Police Captain Michael Lacey, who heads the animal control service, met with Waterford’s ad-hoc animal control facility study committee Monday to discuss building a regional pound with Waterford, East Lyme and New London. Rose said she would welcome a regional effort, but it would have to come quickly.

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New London currently has $200,000 put away for improvements to its animal shelter, Rose said. Additionally, state funds are available for regional efforts such as this, she said.

“It makes more sense in the long run to regionalize this kind of thing,” Rose said. “I’m sure we could join in, if we knew exactly what (Waterford) wants.”

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New London wants to upgrade its facility in a year or less, Rose said. It needs to get something done with Waterford soon, she said.

Margaret Ormond, chairwoman of the committee, said that would be the decision of the board of selectmen. First Selectman Dan Steward, in a Tuesday interview, said he would be open to regionalizing with New London.

“I need a formal report from (Ormond) on that before making a decision,” Steward said. “But is it an option? Yes.”

The location of the facility was debated Monday night as well, with Ackley pushing for it to be in New London, where the current facility is.

“New London would love to see it stay in New London,” Ackley said.

Ormond countered, saying Waterford’s current location is superior. New London’s location is away from the road, where people can abuse animals, while Waterford’s location is right behind the police station and is constantly monitored.

Steward supported Ormond’s argument Tuesday.

“I have constant traffic going by that facility,” Steward said, referring to the current Waterford Animal Control shelter. “Nobody is going to go near that place.”

Debate Over Philosophy

The philosophies between New London and Waterford on animal control were discussed as well. Ormond wondered if New London was quicker to euthanize than Waterford-East Lyme, a label that is not true, Ackley said.

“We walked into this fire, saying that New London is all for euthanizing animals,” Ackley said. “We are not who was presented.”

Lacey backed up those comments.

“We make every attempt to adopt every animal,” Lacey said. “I don’t know where this came from.”

According to statistics, New London had a higher euthanization rate than Waterford-East Lyme, Norwich or Groton in 2010. Waterford-East Lyme euthanized  six dogs in 2010; New London euthanized 34.

Waterford-East Lyme and New London both had low adoption rates compared to Groton and Norwich in 2010. Waterford-East Lyme and New London both adopted out roughly 20 percent of all animals taken in 2010, both much lower than Groton (47.5 percent) and Norwich (38 percent).

Those numbers can be misleading, as it is up to the types of animals you are dealing with, Steward said. The difference is Waterford-East Lyme doesn’t euthanize healthy animals, and New London has, Ormond said.

“The first three steps of our policy are adoption, adoption and adoption,” Ormond said.

New London, meanwhile, has sometimes had to make tough decisions if the animal has been in the shelter for a long time, Rose said. Those decisions are not made easily, she said.

“Maybe Waterford taxpayers are willing to pay for an animal to stay in a shelter for a year, two years, or more,” Rose said. “If you gave a person a choice between paying for school or keeping a dog alive for two or three years, what would they choose?”

Ormond protested that, saying Waterford-East Lyme would be willing to keep the dog forever.

To help reach an agreement, New London submitted its written policy on animal control to Waterford, Ackley said. Waterford, meanwhile, has yet to submit their policy to New London, despite the city asking for it weeks ago, Ackley said.


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