New animal control officers hit the streets
By Shara JJ Cooper
New animal control officers are now working in the Boundary to help lost dogs get home and handle complaints on issues like aggressive or nuisance animals.
Niki Best and Gary Maletta got the job when the Regional Distict of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) decided to accept a proposed contract with the BC Commissionaries. The duo are based out of Grand Forks, but will also be covering Christina Lake, Greenwood and RDKB Area D.
Maletta says they started working Sept. 6 and it hasn’t been too busy.
“We’ve had half a dozen calls so far,” he said. Of those, they helped a couple of lost dogs find their way home and played mediator between two individuals.
They plan on improving communication with the public and have started a Facebook page called Kootenay Boundary Animal Control, which will be used to help connect found animals with their owners and share information.
Since they have taken over, they have started cleaning up their facilities in Grand Forks.
“We want to make it more appealing for people who stop by,” said Maletta. So far they have done a lot of weeding and are hoping to repaint it and add new signs.
The RDKB has not passed the new animal control bylaw yet.
Call 250 – 443 – 1851 to reach the Kootenay Boundary Animal Control
