ACO Haley Lamonte (3 years service) and Rachel Taylor (15 years service) received recognition after achieving no-kill status at shelter for the first time ever.

By Harry Kane

Somerville Animal Control department received a national award from an organization called Best Friends Animal Society earlier this year for reaching a benchmark goal in 2023 with a 90 percent no-kill rate of dogs and cats.

In addition to the award from the Best Friends network, Animal Control Officers Rachel Taylor and Haley LaMonte were presented with a citation for recognition of maintaining and achieving a no-kill status at the August 22 Somerville City Council meeting as an offering of commendation for the achievement of saving at-risk canines and felines.

“I brought forward this citation recognizing the Animal Control department for receiving that award,” said City Councilor At-Large Kristen Strezo. “I thought it was important to commemorate, because we have to celebrate the win.”

In 2023, 415,000 dogs and cats were killed in shelters across the United States due to homelessness, according to Best Friends Animal Society.

Best Friends Animal Society is a non-profit organization that operates the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless animals and provides adoption, spay/neuter and educational programs.

Somerville’s Animal Control department processed a combined total of 107 dogs and cats at their kennel in 2023. Sadly, four cats and two dogs were humanely euthanized as a result of veterinary recommendation primarily due to illness or severe injury.

This is the first year that the City of Somerville Animal Control department has received the no-kill status. To be considered no-kill, a shelter must have at least a 90 percent placement rate for the cats and dogs in their care.

The job of an Animal Control Officer or ACO involves responding to calls about sick, injured and potentially dangerous domestic and wild animals roaming at large, and providing transportation to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or a veterinarian as necessary.

The department enforces the city’s regulations against cruelty to animals and handles cases of abandoned or unclaimed animals. If warranted, officers will take custody of a neglected or cruelly treated animal.

As the city’s animal inspector, the ACO department manages bite reports and follows up with any necessary prosecution. They maintain the city kennel, and unclaimed dogs are required to be held for 10 days prior to being transported to a viable adoption program, according to the City of Somerville.

Before the citation was presented at the City Council meeting, a letter was read aloud, which was written by Julie Castle, Chief Executive Officer of Best Friends Animal Society.

“I want to congratulate Somerville Animal Control on achieving a 90 percent save rate for the 2023 calendar year. You’ve joined an elite group of organizations across the country who are leading the way toward making us a no-kill nation,” said Castle in the letter.

An orange and white plaque, which says, WE ARE A NO-KILL SHELTER 2023, now hangs on the wall at Somerville Animal Control, and is a representation of the dedication and milestone the city has reached within the broader animal welfare movement.

In most cases, Officers Taylor and LaMonte capture and impound roaming or wandering cats and dogs, and later return them to their homes.

“Most of the time we are able to find their owner,” said Officer LaMonte. “There have been a couple of instances of an abandoned animal where we are not able to find an owner.”

If stray dogs or feral cats are not claimed after a hold period they typically go through an evaluation for adoption or transfer to a rescue organization.

Animal Control provides humane refuge to homeless, abandoned and surrendered cats and dogs. The hope is to find caring people to adopt, foster, donate, volunteer and advocate to help save the lives of pets in Somerville.

Both Officers Taylor and LaMonte work tirelessly to provide for the community and animals in their time of need.

“I hope we can keep that status every year,” said Officer LaMonte. “That’s the goal.”