Sanctuary At Haafsville To Pick Up Township's Stray Dogs, Cats

The Lehigh County Humane Society will no longer be picking up the township's stray dogs and cats.

Township commissioners on Wednesday night voted unanimously to contract with the Sanctuary at Haafsville in Upper Macungie for its animal control services after consulting with the facility's executive director, Liz Jones.

"She's incredibly passionate," township Finance Director Linda Perry told the board. "There's no doubt in my mind that this will be a successful arrangement." 

The township had relied on the Humane Society for animal control services for at least the past 19 years, but did not renew its contract when it expired at the end of December.

Commissioners did not say why they were making the switch.

However, according to information provided at the meeting, the Sanctuary's fees will be considerably lower.

The Sanctuary will charge the township $100 per stray dog and $30 per stray cat. The fee will cap at $3,900 each year, said Perry. The Humane Society's fee for this year would have been $8,500, she said.

Since the Sanctuary is not yet state-certified, Perry said, Jones will have the strays housed for 48 hours at the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, as required by state law. After that, she said, Jones will pick up the strays for boarding and care. 

Perry said Jones will either reunite the animals with their owners or put them up for adoption.

"She can meet all of our requirements," Perry told the board prior to the vote.

According to township records, the township's animal control costs have jumped in the past two years. The township will pay the Humane Society $9,900 for animal control services in 2010, up from $3,993 the previous year.

Perry said the Humane Society had picked up 35 dogs and seven cats in the township in 2010, and 16 dogs and nine cats in 2009.

The , a no-kill facility, is envisioned on an eight-acre property donated by the Haaf-Tercha family in Upper Macungie. Plans call for five buildings, including one where minor surgeries and neuter/spays can be performed. A $2 million capital fund-raising campaign will officially begin in June. There will be an inaugural public opportunity, which will be a fund-raiser.