New Town goes to the dogs
By Jerry W. Kram
Dogs and other animals roaming loose are increasing in New Town and the surrounding area. The New Town Police Department has responded to an alarming number of dog bite incidents in the last two weeks. The New Town City Council and the Three Affiliated Tribes Game and Fish Department got together to discuss the issue at the council’s regular meeting last Wednesday.
Toni Smith, the new director of the department, talked about the issues facing the department as a whole and especially the Animal Control program. Smith said that while the department has a budget for four officers, it has only been able to keep two on staff because of the conditions the officers work under. Game and Fish officers start at $16 an hour and get $18 an hour once they have completed their training. Those officers have to cover all six of the reservation segments.
