Clair’s Kennel—Safe Haven for Lost Pets Becky Brindle
We are nearing the end of summer. And summer is usually a busy time of year for the South Hills Cooperative Animal Control and USC’s Clair’s Kennel, when there is an increase in lost pet reports. “Returning a pet to its owner is probably my favorite part of the job,” said Tony Capozzoli, a longtime animal control officer. The Bethel Park resident has been with South Hills Cooperative Animal Control for 29 years. Returning pets to their proper owners and finding homes for unclaimed animals are top priorities for the animal control officers. The organization holds wandering animals inside Clair’s Kennel while the animal control officers work to find the pets’ owners. The South Hills Cooperative Animal Control has found recent success in using Facebook to reunite owners with their pets. Clair’s Kennel was built by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Township of Upper St. Clair in the late 1970s. It shares a parking lot with USC’s municipal building at 1820 McLaughlin Run Road. Inside the building are nine cages. “Fortunately, they’ve never been to full capacity, and we don’t want to jinx that track record,” said Tony. Animal control officers ask that owners assure their pets are licensed through both Allegheny County and the Township of Upper St. Clair, as required. Pennsylvania law mandates owners obtain dog licenses by January 1 of each year. Violations can result in fines of up to $300 a day. The Allegheny County application is available at the Upper St. Clair reception desk or on the Allegheny County website. The Upper St. Clair pet license should be obtained annually by January 15 of each year. The USC application is available at the Upper St. Clair reception desk or on the Township’s website (www.twpusc.org) at the bottom of the Animal Control webpage. There is no fee for an Upper St. Clair Township license, but proof of rabies vaccination is required. Be sure to call police dispatch if your pet runs away. Animal control officers use police logs to help find pet owners. Secure your pet with a tag that includes the owner’s name and phone number or get your pet microchipped. “Check with your vet to assure your name and information is properly placed on the chip,” said Tony. “There have been a number of local cases when the chip has incorrectly directed the officer to the vet or to the manufacturer of the chip instead of the pet’s owner.”
Tony Capozzoli, South Hills Cooperative Animal Control Officer
Tony is one of five animal control officers who cover 12 communities in the local area, including Upper St. Clair, Baldwin, Bethel Park, Carnegie, Castle Shannon, Dormont, Green Tree, Heidelberg, Mt. Lebanon, Rosslyn Farms, Scott, and Whitehall. The organization has grown tremendously since originally forming in the late ’70s, starting with just four communities: Upper St. Clair, Dormont, Mt. Lebanon, and Scott. The officers begin their day at Clair’s Kennel. There is also an office inside the Mt. Lebanon public safety building. The organization is in direct contact with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. South Hills Cooperative Animal Control works directly with the ACHD when a possible rabid animal is found. “If you see a wild animal in your yard or around your neighborhood and feel uncomfortable about it, call us and we will come out and take a look,” said Tony. Animal control officers will also come out to a resident’s home when an animal has entered the house. Bats, birds, and squirrels are the most common animals that Tony has helped remove from houses. The animals generally enter through fireplaces, vents, open doors, and open garage doors. At times, Tony has also removed raccoons and deer. “There was a buck that went through an open glass sliding door of a house on USC’s Morrow Road about 20 years ago,” recalls Tony. With amusement, he said it was the most memorable experience in his animal control career. He also said he has helped remove deer from backyard swimming pools. Traps that residents can use for nuisance animals
Inside Clair’s Kennel 34
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Fall 2019
