Delray animal shelter may become latest victim of city budget cuts

By DAVID DiPINO
Staff Writer

DELRAY BEACH – A feral street cat crosses Southwest Third Avenue, just a few feet from the Delray Beach Animal Shelter and the city's Animal Control offices. Unlike other municipalities in Palm Beach County, Delray Beach operates its own Animal Control Department. 
But that could change if the city's budget cuts planned for the upcoming fiscal year halt the service.
Animal Control Officer Jennifer Feldman said she and her staff, kennel control Supervisor Carlos Thomas and an assistant animal control officer, handle more than 200 calls from police officers and residents every month. 
At 8:39 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, for example, Feldman and Thomas were called upon to rescue a female medium-sized dog that had been following a woman walking around southeastern Delray Beach.
"We assist police with calls all the time," Feldman said. "We do bite investigations, educate the public, pick up dead animals, put up free cat traps, and notify people if a pet tag is found."
City officials have suggested eliminating Delray Beach Animal Control, a division of the Code Enforcement department. All animal control work would be forwarded to Palm Beach County Animal Control.
"We're the littlest department … doing the dirtiest work," Thomas said. "The public likes us, they see us every day doing our job."
Feldman said she has been asked by Code Enforcement officials to provide documentation of Animal Control's annual records. She hopes that is what is needed to save the city's Animal Shelter, as well as her job. 
Animal Control can be reached at 561-243-7330.

David DiPino can be reached at dddipino@tribune.com or 954-621-5000.

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About This Blog

Dave DiPino
David DiPino joined Forum Publishing Group in August 2006. As a reporter for the Delray Forum, David covers community news and writes a dining column twice a month that focuses on restaurants in South Palm Beach County.

He also is one of the writers of the twice-monthly Hometown Downtown column that looks at events, celebrations, and organizations in Delray and Boynton Beach. He freelances for the Sun-Sentinel during high school football and basketball seasons.

David spent 12 years working in the restaurant industry, and did just about every job in the back of the house, including line cook, sous chef, and dessert chef. A Florida native who lives in Jupiter, he studied Multimedia Journalism at Florida Atlantic University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree. David enjoys playing the guitar, golf, boating and snorkeling during his free time.

Contact him at ddipino@gmail.com or 954-621-5000.