The city of Truesdale is changing its animal control contract to be more directly responsive to the city’s needs and have fewer unproductive visits.

The Truesdale Board of Aldermen have approved a new contract with S&R Animal Control, which makes significant adjustments to when the regional service is making stops in the city. Under its previous contract, S&R engaged in a system of routine patrols in Truesdale, visiting five times per month regardless of whether or not any animals were known to be at large.

City officials described that approach to animal control as being relatively ineffective. So when S&R began contacting clients over the summer to propose rate increases, Truesdale also altered the terms of its contract to be more focused on when the city has a true need for the animal control service.

Instead of receiving a set number of visits per month, Truesdale will now receive up to 24 animal control visits per year, and only when city officials directly request them. Although that’s significantly fewer visits overall, the arrangement allows Truesdale to save its visits for when it actually needs a stray animal to be addressed.

City Clerk Elsa Smith-Fernandez said 24 total visits would be more than sufficient to handle the number of local animals that S&R dealt with in the last year.

“Last year, there were nine dogs picked up, four cats, and seven warnings given (to animal owners),” Smith-Fernandez said.

The new contract also comes with a $25 increase to S&R’s monthly fees, which are up from $275 to $300 per month. If the animal control service makes more than 24 visits in a year, there would be an additional fee of $150 per visit.

Aldermen said they’re comfortable with the rate of $300 per month, averaging two visits per month, if they know that each visit is directly addressing a problem.

The contract also sets S&R’s reimbursement for impounding an animal at $20 per day, or $30 per day for aggressive animals. That fee would be paid by the animal’s owner, or by the city if the animal isn’t claimed.

S&R owner Ann Howard has previously stated that her company hasn’t raised prices since 2014 and is now adjusting its rates accordingly.

Several other contract changes are aimed at providing Truesdale city officials with more direct oversight of the work S&R is performing on their behalf. Notably, the contractor will no longer respond to calls for service that come directly from residents. All animal control calls must be routed to staff at City Hall, who will then contact S&R.

S&R is also obligated to maintain records of its activities related to animals from Truesdale, and provide the city with monthly reports.