Woodford County Sheriff’s Office is new animal control

Posted on January 22, 2024

BY WMBD-TV

WOODFORD COUNTY – The Woodford County Board is shifting animal control duties to the sheriff’s office. At Tuesday’s meeting the board approved nearly $800,000 for the department to hire more staff and purchase equipment to help fulfill its new duties.

Previously, the county would privately contract someone to handle animal control. The new model will have two deputies working as animal control officer. Chief Deputy Dennis Tipsword thinks the change is a good fit for both the sheriff’s office and the county.

“We’ve seen the broader we can get with specialty positions makes it easier for us to hire good people because there is that possibility of lateral movement within the agency,” he said. “I actually think the county is happy for it now because they’re not hiring contractual folks to be our animal control wardens. They’re actually employees of the county now.”

Tipsword said due to needing to locate the equipment it will be a couple of months before the sheriff’s office is ready to take over.

WMBD-TV can be reached at [email protected].

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