BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The Bay Minette Police Department receives approximately 70 calls per month on animal incidents, from animal nuisances to dogs running at large, according to Bay Minette Police Chief Michael Rowland.

This number is less than last year’s approximately 120 calls per month, Rowland said in a phone interview.

“We re-evaluated how we’re handling calls,” he said.

That’s because last  year, all animal complaints were routed to Bay Minette Police Department Animal Control Officer Gina Jones. But today, patrol officers investigate and respond to the call unless they see that the situation requires an animal-control specialist, Rowland said.

“Gina is one person,” he said, “but we have 16 on patrol. he said. “Now we can spend more time finding owners, giving them suggestions on how to restrain their animals and kind of problem-solving.”

The system changes have been in place for about a year, Rowland said, and the new system saves the city about $5,000 a month and the new approach has reduced animal-incident calls. With fewer animals to impound, treat and house, the city has reduced costs from about $7,500 a month to $2,500 a month, Rowland said.

Veronica Morris of Bay Minette Animal Control said the clinic sometimes keeps stray animals longer than the city’s 10-day period without any additional cost to the city, after the animals end up there upon separation from their owners.

“Most of them are fine,” she said in an interveiw at the clinic. “They’re just strays, but she (Jones) does bring in some that are injured.”

Though fewer incidents occur than this time last year, those that do still require attention, Rowland said.

“There’s always safety issues involved if you don’t know where the animal came from, because it could be sick or injured,” he said. “We encourage people not to approach animals and to leave that to trained hands.”

When an animal is impounded, it is taken to the Bay Minette Animal Clinic where it is treated for any injury or illness, spayed or neutered, and given shots. It remains at facility for 10 days. If not adopted, the animal goes to one of several cooperating agencies, such as the North Baldwin Animal Shelter, Rowland said, explaining that the police department works with such agencies s PetSmart and the Haven at adoption events throughout Baldwin County.

One such event will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday in Foley.

Morris added that many organizations aid in the adoption of stray animals.

“Cam, a black labrador, was here since March 16th," she said. “He came all the way from Birmingham and was picked up while running at large. His owners wouldn’t come all the way down here to get him, but the lady from the Golden Retriever Rescue Foundation is coming today (Wednesday) to pick him up. She’s found him a home in Cincinatti.”

Rowland said that healthy animals can be adopted out, while sick animals must be euthanized.

According to Jones and Morris, resources are limited for animals awaiting adoption, as the clinic only has room to house 20 animals and the shelter is a privately funded, non-euthanizing facility.

Jones also explained that strays or animal emergencies should be reported to animal control at (251) 580-1625 within the city of Bay Minette and (251) 972-6834 elsewhere.

For more on adoptions, call Jones at (251) 580-2559, or call or visit the Bay Minette Animal Clinic at (251) 937-7540 or the North Baldwin Animal Shelter at (251) 580-1625.