Dog census begins in St. Joseph County

The St. Joseph County Animal Control has started a countywide dog census.
Led by animal control officers Greg Musser and Josh Shook, the count is expected to take a number of months after it started in a White Pigeon Township mobile home community a month ago.
Sheriff Brad Balk said a surprising number of dogs in the county are not vaccinated, and he expects the census will have a positive impact on that situation. He said public safety is a driving force behind the effort.
Musser and Shook agreed, saying ultimately, the census is a critical disease- and prevention-control measure.
The count is a door-to-door process and so far has been conducted in portions of White Pigeon and Fabius townships.
Shook said residents who appear to have a dog but are not home at the time of their visit have five days to call them or face a $250 fine.
Musser and Shook expect the final count to be in the thousands, but they won’t have a better estimate until later in the summer.