Oakland County To Take Over Ferndale Animal Control

Ferndale City Council unanimously approved Oakland County to take over animal control services Monday night, ending months of speculation on city of Ferndale's relationship with the organization , a no-kill animal shelter operating out of the Ferndale yard.

“I want to make it very clear that it’s not for a performance issue,” said Mayor Dave Coulter.

Through Oakland County, the city will gain a number of services that Waggs and Wishes was just not able to provide legally. They include:

• Bite investigation
• Animal cruelty investigations
• Sterilizations
• Dog licensing
• Stray dog pickup

Since the announcement in January by County Commissioner Craig Covey that , Ferndale residents and Waggs and Wishes  — even starting an online petition.

The organization’s presence was absent at the Council meeting Monday night and founder of Waggs and Wishes Angie Potter could not be reached for comment.

As part of the contract with Oakland County, the city would have to void the contract with Waggs and Wishes. The organization will have 30 days to either surrender the animals currently housed on the DPW yard to Oakland County or take them under their own care.

In preparation for a possible takeover of services by the county, Waggs and Wishes has been fundraising and looking for a building donation so it can continue to operate as a shelter and house rescued animals.

There is, however, a possibility that Waggs and Wishes could work with the county, Coulter said. While it is certain Waggs and Wishes cannot have a relationship with the city of Ferndale, it may have a relationship with Oakland County, he said.

Now that Oakland County will take over the DPW building, there is a chance that Waggs and Wishes can continue to care for animals form there as well, just under a new agreement. This time it would have to be between Waggs and Wishes and Oakland County. No agreement has been discussed, however.

“We owe Waggs and Wishes for stepping in and offering their services a debt of gratitude,” said Ferndale Police Chief Tim Collins.

Once Ferndale cut the animal control services from its budget to help solve a $3 million shortfall last year, Waggs and Wishes stepped in to take over some of the animal control duties at no cost to the city. The result was releasing some of the pressure from Ferndale police officers who might have to pick up some of the animal control responsibilities.

Still, Collins said, having the county implementing these services will be a huge relief to the department.

And while the county's services will not be at the same caliber as the old, pre-2010 Ferndale animal control services, Collins said, they will be a welcomed addition to Ferndale.

“We are very pleased that we will be working with Oakland County and able to use their services,” said Collins.

Despite the move toward Oakland County's services, Councilwoman Melanie Piana requested a resolution be drafted in support of Waggs and Wishes for stepping up during a time when Ferndale was decreasing their services.

"Waggs and Wishes can operate fully as a nonprofit, providing their services elsewhere in the city," Piana said.