Arnold Council has opted to have Hoffman Kennels handle its animal control function instead of Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley.

That decision came Tuesday after Gary Hoffman, the kennel owner, addressed council and answered questions about his operation.

One thing Hoffman tried to dispel is the notion that he euthanizes dogs that he takes into custody if they are unclaimed after five days.

“That doesn’t happen,” he said.

He said he works with five animal shelters that are heavily involved in the process.

“They make the decision on whether the dog is going to make it in society,” Hoffman said.

At the April 9 council meeting, Mayor Karen Pecconi said her understanding was that Hoffman’s operation was a “kill” shelter that routinely euthanizes the dogs it captures.

Instead, she proposed giving the $160 per month fee called for in Hoffman’s contract to Animal Protectors as a donation.

She said Animal Protectors, which is staffed mainly with volunteers, will come and pick up stray dogs when called and added that it’s a “no-kill” shelter.

Councilman Phil McKinley disagreed, saying that Animal Protectors does not have the same experience in handling violent animals that Hoffman does and isn’t equipped to tranquilize such animals.

“Animal Protectors is not qualified or certified to do this job,” McKinley reiterated Tuesday.

Peconi and Councilman Anthony Sgalio were absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

“Dog control isn’t just picking up a dog, that’s the easy part,” Hoffman said. “It’s battling day in and day out with the public.”

He said he isn’t after dogs as much as he is trying to rein in dog owners who mistreat or abuse their dogs, train them to become vicious and dont take steps to control them and prevent them from harming other animals and people.

He lives at the kennel location and it’s equipped with air-conditioned cages, heated floors and a room for surgical procedures. The dogs are provided for on a daily basis.

“I don’t think there is anyone in this room who loves dogs more than I do,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said this of his operation:

= He has been doing it for 42 years;

= It handles animal calls for more than 100 municipalities in the region and uses a fleet of four trucks to respond;

= He and his employees answer “60 to 70 calls per day” and write between 150 and 200 dog citations every month;

= Municipalities he serves are not charged for the time he spends in testifying at hearings related to dog incidents;

= His trucks are equipped with tranquilizing gun;

= Owners of animals who are picked by Hoffman’s are charged a boarding fee of $15 per day and an $50 impoundment fee from the state.

“Dog control is getting tougher,” Hoffman said. “The dogs are getting bigger and tougher. When we respond to a call, the owner is usually injured or the dog is injured.”

As for tranquilizing animals, Hoffman said “There’s nobody out there that can do it.”

The contract was awarded by a 2-1 vote. McKinley and Deb Vernon voted to hire Hoffman while Councilman Joseph Bia opposed it.

“My concern is response time,” Bia said, noting that Hoffman said he contracts with 100 municipalities and covers them with just four trucks.

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