The town of Elbridge has a new dog control officer in Carl Collier, owner of Finger Lakes Dog Protection Agency in Auburn.

Mayor Ken Bush said Thursday there were a few factors in making the switch away from former town-employed officer Steve Remp, the biggest of which is a savings to the taxpayers. For the town to employ its own officer brings with it a cost upward of $10,000 including salary, mileage payment and other fees. By contracting out, the total yearly cost is cut to $8,540, something Councillor Bill Kuhn said is just the beginning of good things to come with Collier.

“We had talks about possibly having Camillus fill the spot, but they weren’t interested,” Kuhn said. “Steve did a good job, but at times I think he took on too much. He had a full-time job, and we decided it was time for a change.”

In the old agreement, the town was forced to pay $150 a month for kennel space at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Finger Lakes, even when the town had no animals in residence. Because Collier owns his own kennel, which Kuhn said is family operated, things will flow smoothly and ease some of the responsibility off the town.

“Public employees are expensive,” Bush said. “The savings will be passed right along to the residents.”

Though Collier started Jan. 1, it was Kuhn who acted as the officer on that day. Laying in bed recovering from a New Year’s celebration, Kuhn ignored his ringing house phone. Before long, his cell phone piped up and it was a call from New York State Troopers.

“My heart dropped,” Kuhn said. “I have a 23- and 26-year-old, so all sorts of things were going through my mind.”

His children were fine. Someone, though, had dropped off an injured Brittany Spaniel at the trooper barracks, and Kuhn was the only one reachable. He scooped up the puppy and brought her to his home.

After cleaning up the dog via bath, Kuhn noticed it had tags. He put in a call to Town Clerk Deb Stapleton, who went to the office and found out who the owners were: Elbridge residents Mike and Eileen Vesosky.

“I called and no one answered,” Kuhn said. “The dog was such a sweetheart, so I went to the owners’ house, and no one was there. While there, the family came home and they got the dog back. It was a happy ending for such a great dog.”

Collier and the Vesoskys were unable to be reached for comment.

Neil Benjamin Jr. is a reporter/editor for Eagle Newspapers, and can be reached at [email protected].