LETTER: Crestview Animal Control employees say goodbye

To the Citizens of Crestview,

It is with a saddened heart that we write to say goodbye. We feel that we have served you well (we hope you all feel the same). The city council has decided to close the shelter here in Crestview and turn Animal Control over to P.A.W.S., located in Fort Walton Beach. We know this will be somewhat of an inconvenience to you here in Crestview.

This reflects not on the inability of the staff of Animal Control, more so, on the dollar. P.A.W.S. will be servicing the entire area of Okaloosa (excluding Valparaiso). With only five daily officers and one on-call officer to accomplish this task, (it) seems impossible.

From Destin to Laurel Hill and to each county line that surrounds Okaloosa is a very large area for them to cover and please our citizens of Crestview. We apologize to the citizens for what we feel is shortsighted of the council.

We know everyone's pet "escapes" on occasion. It sometimes can't be helped. When P.A.W.S. becomes your animal control, you will have to go to Fort Walton Beach or Laurel Hill to see if they have your pet. For some this will be a difficult task.

There will be no dead animal removal in your streets by Animal Control. No nuisance wildlife response. The elderly citizens (we currently set traps for) that capture the raccoons and opossum, as well as cats, are a great concern to us here.

You will now be on an extended waiting list with P.A.W.S. We foresee an influx of stray cats as well as raccoons and opossums, either in your yards or dead in your streets. One should worry if the threat of rabies will become more of an issue when this happens. If you have a snake on your patio you will need to call a wildlife removal specialist to come to your home for a fee of their choice.

The animal control fees will also change. You will need to call their office for this information. We feel it is not our place to quote prices for others' services.

We are a two-person office, with one dispatcher who has been with Crestview Animal Control for 11 years, and one Animal Control officer who has been with Animal Control for five years (with the City of Crestview for nine years). With no hope, it seems, of being transferred to other departments within the city.

We have been loyal employees making the shelter a much better place for the animals. We each have personal reasons for not wanting to leave our employ with the city.

This decision will be finalized when the council meets on Monday, Sept. 13. Only the citizens coming to our rescue could (hopefully) stop it now. We plead with you to go to this meeting, contact the council members, the mayor, and voice your opinions of this matter.

You are Crestview. You should be the voice heard the loudest and the decision makers. Please consider the value of service versus the dollar amount.

We at Animal Control would like to thank Mrs. Parker and Mr. Allen for their support of our continued services.

We thank you in advance for your support.

Crestview Animal Control staff

Robert Carr, Animal Control officer

Kip Cole, Animal Control dispatcher