Mayor Blake: 'No Present Plan to Move Animal Control' (UPDATED)

Updated 11 a.m. Tuesday

Marc Dillion, the chief of staff for Stratford Mayor John A. Harkins, writes in an email to Milford Patch, "There are no plans to merge animal control with any other entity."

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Our original report follows.

Milford Mayor Ben Blake says there is “no present plan to move animal control.”

Republican mayoral hopeful Peter Spalthoff in an announcement on Milford Patch presented a claim that Blake was involved in talks to potentially merge the city’s animal shelter with Stratford.

Asked if that held any weight, Blake said, “It’s the first time I’m hearing of it.”

The mayor, however, did say that his administration is “always looking for ways to maintain the same services to residents” and reduce costs without burdening the taxpayer.

Blake said the shelter was built some 15-20 years ago. It currently provides “all animal control service” for Orange, which in turn pays the city $75,000 a year, he said.

Considering Orange has more registered canines than Milford, the neighbors to the north are “actually getting a deal,” Blake said.