This letter is to inform you that as of Nov. 1, 2009, the city of Clearlake will no longer be contracting with the county for the same level of animal control services that were provided in the past, as the city will be contracting with the county for limited animal shelter services, only.

The new contract specifically states that the county will only be allowed to take Clearlake animals from Clearlake City Animal Control Officer Lee Lambert or his designated representative. The representative must be approved by Sgt. Craig Clausen of Clearlake Police Department.

Animals from the city limits of Clearlake must be taken to the Clearlake impound area, located on Airstrip Road at the Clearlake Public Works facility from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Anyone bringing an animal to the facility must pay the $85 fee to drop off the animal and must show proof of residence address within the city limits (such as a current Pacific Gas & Electric Co. bill, phone bill, etc.). Without this proof the animal will not be accepted. This fee is per animal regardless of species or age, or whether owned, stray or abandoned.

Any calls for animal control service within the city limits of the city of Clearlake, including after hours emergencies, must be directed to the Clearlake Police Dispatch at 707-994-8251.

Animal owners wishing to re-home their animal should check with rescue groups via a search engine on your computer, or you can go to the Lake County Animal Care & Control Web site www.co.lake.ca.us and click on the link to the rescue groups listed on the left.

Currently, per the new contract, the city of Clearlake will be doing its own licensing of pets living in the city limits. Please contact Clearlake City Hall at 707-994-8201 to find out how to go about having that done.

The animals from the city limits of Clearlake will be housed at the Lake County Animal Care & Control facility, located at 4949 Helbush Drive in Lakeport. If you are missing an animal from the city limits of Clearlake and cannot find it at the Clearlake facility on Airstrip Road, please check for it at the county’s facility.

Remember that coming in to personally see the animals at the shelter is always the best way to identify your animal as we always have several of one breed and/or color pattern which makes it difficult for us to positively identify an animal over the telephone. However, you are also welcome to call us ahead of your visit at 707-263-0278 to see if we have any animals in our custody that fit the general description of your missing animal.

Citizens can also access our Web site which is updated daily at www.co.lake.ca.us and just follow the links to animal control to see if your pet’s photo and description have been placed on our site or the lost and found site that day. Please remember that just because you don’t see your pet on the Website does not mean we don’t have it; it may just mean we haven’t had it long enough to get its photo in the system.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Clearlake Animal Control please direct your calls and letters to the Clearlake City Council, 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, 95422, telephone 707-994-8201, fax 707-995-2653; or Clearlake Police Chief Allan McClain, also at 14050 Olympic Drive, telephone 707-994-8251, fax 707-994-8918.

Denise Johnson is director of Lake County Animal Care & Control.