Breckenridge Animal Center, employee receive fresh start

The Breckenridge Animal Center and the last employee working at the center received a new beginning after the city of Breckenridge gave the service over to the Breckenridge Police Department.

During the Tuesday, June 2, City Commissioners meeting, the city approved a decision to shut down the Animal Control Department and assign the various duties to the BPD.

“Since this animal center has been empty, Rachel Lopez was the person who was assigned here and she knew her days were numbered due to the budget cuts,” Bacel Cantrell, Breckenridge Police Chief said. “She worked her tail off touching-up the walls, and all the doors and frames have been repainted. While working, she knew her days here working was coming to an end. We recently found out that we had an opening for one of our dispatching positions, so she’ll just transfer over from the city to the police department. It has worked out perfectly.”

Various sections under the Breckenridge Code of Ordinance will be controlled by BPD, such as the declarations of public nuisance, cruelty to animals, and severely injured animals. BPD will handle stray or aggressive dogs and encourages citizens to contact the police department for dealing with any type of animal.

The total savings for the city could be close to $100,000 per year based on the budget estimates of the departmental proposal.

“The budget was high due to the large number of animals that the Animal Control Department had to deal with,” Cantrell said. “Now our department will be in charge of the animals within the community. All officers will have a shovel to pick up dead animals on the road and will have basic training on how to use the catchpole on animals. We’ll have an officer who will be specifically for the animal center and their primary function will be this place. The officer will also be able to help with school zone traffic in the mornings and afternoons, including walking around schools or the hospital for safety. So it will be more of a community policing as far as handling animals.”

Pets Masters, located at 2224 U.S. Hwy 180 East, will house all animals that the Stephens County Animal Welfare Center used to handle until the center is available. BPD advises citizens that have any issues dealing with animals to contact the police department.