The Derby dog pound will remain closed at least until the end of the fiscal year in July and if all goes as planned may never reopen, Derby Police Chief Gerald Narowski said last week.
Narowski and the Derby Board of Aldermen discussed the fate of the city’s Coon Hollow Road facility at an Aldermen meeting April 26.
The operation of the facility was called into question earlier this month after Joe Klapcik abruptly quit as Derby Animal Control officer. His position was temporarily covered by animal control officers from Oxford, who found a pit bull inside the pound in need of medical attention.
In addition, the Oxford animal control officers complained about the condition of the pound.
Derby officials, including Mayor Anthony Staffieri, have shrugged off the Oxford observations. Derby police are reviewing how the pound was run under Klapcik.
Click here to read every story written about the Derby pound by the Valley Independent Sentinel.
Narowski closed the pound April 17. Woodbridge animal control is now patrolling Derby and there is a deal in the works to make that change permanent.
Derby Aldermen will probably get a look at a proposed agreement with Woodbridge next month, Narowski said.
The Woodbridge animal control facility is better than Derby’s and anyone who needs help wrangling an animal will not notice a difference in service, the chief said. In addition, Derby will save money, the chief has repeatedly said.
“There is no delay (in responding to calls). It will be transparent to the user,” Narowski said.
At the Derby Aldermen meeting last week, two residents — Keanne Yanarella and Paula Gianpoalo — urged the Aldermen to reopen the dog pound and allow volunteers to help run it.
Klapcik, unlike animal control officers in Ansonia, Bridgeport, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton, didn’t work with volunteers.
Yanarella said Derby residents should care for Derby animals — not a neighboring town.
“I really want to push that we do not leave it closed,” Yanarella said. “It shouldn’t be Woodbridge’s problem.”
Ted Estwan, Jr. noted that the Derby Police Commission had directed Narowski to explore regionalization before Klapcik left town. Estwan is the chairman of the police commission.
Estwan also noted that long-term animal shelters run by animal rescue groups are different entities than animal control facilities.
Finally, Alderman Art Gerckens apologized to the public for not speaking up about the Derby animal control facility earlier this year.
He walked by the facility in January and had a bad feeling about it, he said. But he didn’t pursue his suspicion.
“Shame on me,” Gerckens said. “I felt there was a problem but I did not take the extra step.”
