Huntington Animal Control Officer Jim Helems.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
HUNTINGTON — Jim Helems, who has served as animal control officer in Huntington for the past four years, is looking for residents to speak out about the new bylaw that passed at the town meeting on June 23 regarding dogs.
Helems said he does not recommend the bylaw and may be forced to step down because of it.
According to Helems, the 40 to 50 town residents who attended the meeting were misled during the discussion about the new bylaw, which suggested that what Helems considers to be the punitive fines in it are required by the state. “I do not believe this to be fully truthful,” he said.
As an example, Mass General Law Chapter 140 Section 145B states that a town can fine a person if their rabies certificate expires of “not more than $100.” He said the fine is not mandatory, and the town can first provide a warning.
“But the new Huntington bylaws require a $25 fine one day after the expiration of the rabies certificate. Plus your dog license becomes void and you must re-apply. Fines quickly go up to $100,” he said, adding, “Yes I know rabies is required by Mass. Law, but who among us forgets or waits for the next vet visit and they remind you.”
Helems owns the Dog Pals Sports Camp in Huntington, where he does agility and scent training by appointment. He also teaches basic obedience training at Sandy Meadow Farm in Westfield. He has an outdoor run at his animal training facility but does not have a kennel.
He said when he first accepted the dog officer position, he felt his job was primarily to help the dogs of Huntington.
“Currently, if a town resident or myself finds a loose dog, I post a missing dog alert on the town Facebook page and, except for a few exceptions, find the owners within hours. I return the dog, verify the license and rabies status and, if not current, state the owner must bring it up to date within 10 days. No fines, no hassles,” he said.
Under the new laws, the first offense for a loose dog is $50, the second offense $100, and up to $500 per day. He said there is no option listed for verbal/written warnings. “Fines for your dog accidentally getting loose could cost you hundreds,” he said.
“I have never in four plus years fined one person. The people have been great — why do I want to fine them for a loose dog,” Helems said. He said he deals with maybe 20 loose dogs a year. “It’s not huge.”
Helems said he doesn’t find an owner for only about one dog a year, and he thinks those dogs may have been intentionally dropped off. He has been lucky, and has rehomed all of them. One year he found a German shepherd who was going to be euthanized if brought to an animal center he uses sometimes. He kept the dog for two weeks and was able to rehome it to Maine.
Helems said his main objection to the new bylaws is the mandatory fines, with no option for a warning, which he doesn’t believe is legal. “I told them if it doesn’t change, I’m resigning. I can’t fine someone if their dog accidentally goes out the front door. If I don’t do it, I’ll get fined. June 30 is the end of year — I was reappointed, but I haven’t accepted it yet. I put myself in financial liability if I accept the position,” he said.
Back in February, Helems met with the town clerk and was provided a preliminary copy of the new bylaws. “At that time I sent in many suggested changes as I felt the bylaws had many problems,” he said, adding that at one point he told the town clerk that he would resign if they were approved as is. “Shortly thereafter after I was informed she talked to the board and everything was all set and I would not need to change how I was performing my job.”
He said he never received a request directly from the Select Board, nor a finalized copy of the bylaws prior to the meeting for a discussion. “I felt lied to and blindsided. It appeared one of the other select board members was also blindsided, as he was surprised I spoke up against the bylaws, and later stated he believed I was read in and accepted the proposal.”.
Two changes in the new law that Helems supports are ones that he initiated. “There are two things I pushed the town for — if you’re over 70, you’re not going to get charged for a dog license. That is part of the new bylaw. We had nothing about service dogs — I did push for both of these to go in,” he said.
What Helems is hoping for now is for residents to familiarize themselves with the new bylaws, to contact the Huntington Select Board and ask for a special town meeting and a new vote. He has also requested petition forms from the town. Residents may also contact him directly at 413-246-6506.
“There’s no way that any dog person in town is going to accept this law. I just need to get the word out. This will stop people from getting a license and rabies (vaccination),” Helems said, adding, “Dogs are not a huge problem in Huntington. My goal has always been about the dogs. Why are we hurting the town?”
