2024 animal calls up 6%

One need only examine the weekly Dispatch blotter to see that county animal control officer Wayne Kalchik is a busy, busy guy.

According to the 2024 annual report from the county Sheriff’s office, the officer was dispatched to investigate 413 complaints involving 128 animals. This is a 6% increase from the previous year.

Not surprisingly, the volume of calls increases dramatically during the summer season when the county population is at its highest. During the third quarter, 149 complaints were fielded. The second quarter saw 113 calls; the first quarter, 74 and the fourth quarter recorded 77 calls.