By Daveen Rae Kurutz

Published: Wednesday, January 2, 2013, 8:57 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Delmont-based Hoffman Kennels will continue to provide animal-control services in Murrysville for the next year.

Murrysville Council last month approved Hoffman's new contract, which requires him to keep a licensed dog for twice as long as his prior contract. Licensed dogs must be kept for 10 days after notice is given to an owner. Dogs with a microchip that have been registered as being chipped are considered to have an license, according to the contract.

If a dog is unlicensed, Hoffman must keep the animal for three business days before trying to place the animal with a local shelter.

The contract requires Hoffman to notify Mur-rysville police within 24 hours when his kennel picks up a dog. Police will keep a description of any dogs found in Murrysville. Municipal officials considered sending text or email alerts about found dogs using Nixle — an online-based notification system used by Murrysville police — however, council members were worried that the system would be inundated with notices.

Hoffman's services came under scrutiny last summer after residents in several communities complained to local officials about how the kennel handled animals and the way Hoffman interacted with pet owners. Murrysville officials visited the kennel in November and spoke highly of Hoffman's expansion efforts and recommended renewing Hoffman's contract.

Hoffman will be paid $360 per month and an additional $55 per incident for emergency calls beyond business hours.

Daveen Rae Kurutz is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-856-7400, ext. 8627, or dkurutz@tribweb.com.

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