Impounded pets spayed, neutered

Dogs and cats impounded by Purcell’s Animal Control will be spayed or neutered before their owners can retrieve them.

That’s the gist of an ordinance amendment approved during Monday’s city council meeting.

Louise Zastrow, shelter manager, told the council that the shelter presently makes two trips a month transporting animals to a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Oklahoma City.

The surgical cost there to alter a cat is $47 and a dog is $60. Included in the cost is a rabies vaccination.

For pet owners unable to afford that, the shelter has access to grant funding to cover the cost.

Zastrow stressed animal control won’t be going door to door to find out if pets are spayed or neutered. But she said this effort is part of the shelter’s education mission to foster responsible pet ownership.

The council also approved ordinance amendments limiting the length of time and types of signs allowed for grand openings, business anniversaries and going out of business.

The city’s request to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Sourcewell, a Minnesota governmental agency, cleared the final block for the Purcell Fire Department to order a $661,000 fire engine.

City manager Dale Bunn told the council the State of Oklahoma “used to do a better job” offering vehicles and equipment through state bids.

“It has declined in performance,” he continued

Sourcewell is used by several other municipalities as an alternate to state bids, Bunn said.

In other business, the council:

• Approved eight budget amendments;
• Appointed Ted Cox as the council’s liaison to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority;
• Approved a contract for right-of-way acquisition services on the I-35 and State Highway 74 interchange;
• Approved a Comanche Construction’s bid of $39,415 to paint the stucco exterior of the Multi-Purpose Center;
• Approved the $33,699 purchase of a 2019 F150 pickup for Code Enforcement from Zeck Ford; and
• Declared a 1986 Bluebird bus surplus and approved its sale.