Lavallette Borough Hall (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Lavallette officials on Monday night voted to extend an existing contract with Seaside Heights to provide animal control services to the borough.
Lavallette outsourced its animal control services to the nearby town after the previous animal control officer retired. But animal control became a point of focus earlier this year as the borough began receiving complaints from residents over an increasing population of feral cats – particularly breeding and pregnant feral cats – invading residential streets in the center of town.
With officials feeling as if the borough needed a dedicated officer to maintain traps and perform more regular duties, a decision was made to train an employee as the animal control officer. That person’s training is currently underway and will be completed in the coming months – hence the need for interim animal control services.
The contract passed by the borough council Monday night extends the appointment of Seaside Heights to provide animal control services for six months, however the borough can exit the agreement before that time period expires.
