EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- Its been one month since the Eugene-based Greenhill Humane Society animal shelter took over Lane County Animal Services and as the changes are settling, the City of Eugene is now trying to help clear up confusion over who to call for animal services.
Organizationally, things are different in terms of how animal services are now offered across the various cities and unincorporated areas of Lane County.
However, the actual services offered haven’t really changed at all.
One of the biggest things that has not changed is the old LCAS animal shelter on West 1st Avenue in Eugene.
The shelter is still open and will remain in service. Greenhill now runs the shelter under a new name, 1st Avenue Shelter.
Eugene, Springfield and Lane County all have a hand in keeping that shelter open. Those governments all provide pieces of the funding to run it. Those funds are provided through the contract local governments have with Greenhill to run various elements of animal services.
The most significant difference people will notice is in enforcement. Depending on where you live will now dictate who you need to call.
"What really needs to happen now is the public needs to be aware exactly who you call for service,” says Kelly Darnell, the Animal Services Manager for the City of Eugene.
“There are still animal welfare officers, the 1st Avenue Shelter is still open and running. It's just now managed by Greenhill Humane Society instead of the county. So all of the great services we've always had are still happening. It's just a matter of where you call to get those services,” says Darnell.
The First Avenue Shelter remains open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM and on Saturday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. This is the location that impounded, lost and stray animals are taken.
As for who to call for animal services, if you live in Eugene, the number is 541 687-4060 for 24 hour a day, 7 days a week services.
Springfield residents, like they always have, will call 541 726-3634. Calls are also accepted at the non-emergency number: 541 726-3714. For help finding dogs lost in Springfield, visit Springfield Animal Control’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldAnimalControl.
Lane County residents now call 541 682-3645 for service.
As always, any emergency calls should be directed to 911.
With the service changes, animal registrations have also changed. All existing registrations are still valid until they expire. But anything new from here on out will go through the city or area you live in.
The City of Eugene now registers its own dogs and cats, which can be done at
http://www.eugene-or.gov/animalservices. In person, people can register at the 1st Avenue Shelter at 3970 West 1st Avenue in Eugene.
The city of Springfield still only registers its own dogs, but not cats. That can be done at
http://www.springfield-or.gov/Police/patrol.html.
Lane County residents have to register through the county. That can be done at
http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/PW/Parks/LCAS/Pages/Licensing.aspx. People can also go to the new Lane County Customer Service center at 3050 North Delta Highway in Eugene to register in person.
