The City of Newton is currently without animal control services. Stray dogs and other animals are no longer being impounded until a new animal control facility by Iowa Speedway is up and running. It’s an eight-stall modular commercial kennel the City of Newton purchased in September for $84,831. The space is going to be placed at the South Central Pump Station southeast of Iowa Speedway. Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess is looking to open it in mid-June to early-July.

“My Community Service Officers are the primary animal control workers. They have been involved in some training over the past few months to get some certifications to help them run the facility. Our goal is to be the model for other cities, or like sized cities, in terms of animal control and how you operate your own facility.”

According to Burdess, water lines have been installed at the site and it’s hoped a concrete pad will be completed in the next few days. 

A temporary animal control arrangement with Parkview Animal Hospital in Newton ended last Thursday, May 1st. Parkview had a contractual three year agreement through mid October of last year, to provide Newton’s animal control services. But before the agreement expired, Parkview notified the City that they were not interested in extending the contract.