Once a new eight-stall city owned dog kennel is up and running in Newton, Police Chief Rob Burdess hopes volunteers will help with it.

Chief Burdess has been heavily involved in finding a city owned site for a new kennel since Parkview Animal Hospital in Newton terminated a longstanding animal control contract with the city in mid-October. At the last City Council meeting on Monday, December 16th, Burdess received City Council support for placing the kennel at the Iowa Speedway pump station southeast of the speedway. Burdess says the kennel could be ready to go at this location in May at the latest. Once it’s running, he believes volunteers can help out.

“We are going to be at the facility a couple of times a day cleaning kennels and exercising dogs. I think getting some assistance with exercising would be helpful and fun. So we will be reaching out once the kennel is up and running.”

The Newton Police Chief says the department’s three Community Service Officers who work Monday through Friday will run the kennel. The $84,831 commercial dog kennel is currently being stored at 500 West 7th Street North in Newton. Chief Burdess expects the City Council to vote on the Iowa Speedway site in late January or early February.