Baltimore County has discontinued its service that allowed residents to drop off stray or unwanteddogs andcats at police precincts, where they were kept in outdoor cages until Animal Control picked them up.
The service was shut down June 2 for the sake of the animals, according to county Health Department Director Dr. Gregory Branch, who oversees Animal Control.
"In light of recent heat waves and constituent concerns for animals that were being housed in the police kennels, it was decided that they should no longer be used," he said.
The decision came following a meeting of Branch, County Police Chief Jim Johnson and County Administrative Officer Fred Homan, according to Health Department spokeswoman Monique Lyle.
"We're attempting to do what's best for the animals," said Branch, adding that Animal Control can't always respond in a timely manner when police call to report a dog or cat has been put in a cage and needs to be picked up.
That can be a problem when the cage or kennel is exposed to the elements, and the temperature is very high or very low, he said. Animal Control can get very busy, and "if they can't get there within an hour or two, we don't want the animal to suffer."
The cages were kept locked — only police and Animal Control officers had access — so it is unlikely that a member of the public, unaware that their use has been discontinued, will leave a stray without notifying anyone.
The Safe Spot system, which the county began at least 30 years ago, according to Lyle, equipped most county police stations with a temporary holding pen to provide shelter for stray or stranded animals until an Animal Control officer could pick them up.
The new Towson Police Station on Susquehanna Avenue doesn't have one because the old station on Washington Avenue didn't have one. The only precinct that did not have the cages was Pikesville, police said.
The system was instituted to assist police officers who encountered stray animals, she said, noting that at the time, Animal Control did not have a physical facility to house animals.
"It was created to fill a gap and help with public safety by getting strays off the street and having a place to house animals police encountered during their line of work."
But Safe Spots turned out to be anything but safe for some animals.
Though Branch said Animal Control usually arrived within an hour or two, there have been complaints filed aboutcats left to swelter — often without water — in quarters that became ovens in 95 degree weather. Cold weather has also been problematic.
A source familiar with the operation said that in one case, a dog waited 15 hours and was found in the cage in the muck of his own feces and with nothing to drink. In another case, a cat was left for 22 hours during a Fourth of July weekend.
Those who want to drop off a stray dog or cat sill have options, Branch said. They can bring it to the Animal Control Shelter at 13800 Manor Road, in Baldwin, or they can contact Animal Control at 410-887-5961 to make arrangements to have it picked up.
In the event the stray needs to be trapped on private property, the resident can obtain a trap from Animal Control, and after using it, have Animal Control pick up the trapped stray.