Hi Tor Won't Take Animals From Spring Valley

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Hi Tor Animal Care Center’s President Debbie DiBernardo was joined by County Executive Ed Day Wednesday to denounce the Spring Valley government for refusing to pay its fair share toward the county's animal control operation.

“Using actual numbers based on our animal intake and expenses versus revenue sources, we determined what our shortfall was,” said DiBernardo at a press conference Wednesday. “Based on the intake of animals from each municipality, we assessed a dollar amount to each and that became the basis of animal control costs. Our point of view is that it is simple mathematics.”

However, Day said, Spring Valley village officials failed April 18 to pass a resolution executing the Inter-Municipal Agreement between the Village and the County of Rockland for Hi Tor animal control.

Beginning May 1, 2018 Hi Tor will no longer accept animals brought to the shelter by the Village of Spring Valley Police Department. Animals brought to the shelter by the residents of the village will be charged $750 for dogs and $500 for cats in order for the animal to be admitted.

“If Spring Valley does not pass this agreement Rockland will seek to recover the $22,684 that they owe for the animals that have been brought to this county facility so far, this year. It is unconscionable that the Village Board is refusing to pay their fair share and I call on them to do the right thing for their residents, both human and animal alike,” said Day.

In January, Day signed a resolution, passed with the support of the Legislature, to bond $1.2 million to finance the construction of a new building for the Hi Tor Animal Care Center. This money combined with $350,000 from Hi Tor’s fundraising and $500,000 in state grants from Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski means a new $2,050,000 facility would be built in Pomona on the existing animal shelter site.

The County is in the process of borrowing that money and will soon issue an RFP to secure an Architect to begin the process of designing this new facility. Groundbreaking should occur mid-2019, officials said.

What the towns pay toward animal control:

• Stony Point $21,491
• Haverstraw $39,399
• Clarkstown $111,035
• Ramapo $75,218
• Orangetown $39,399

Spring Valley should be paying $68,053, county officials said.