Local governments across the state continue to feel the effects of funding cuts as a result of Wyoming's economic downturn, and the Animal Control Division of the Laramie Police Department is no exception.

With the recent elimination of the division supervisor's position following the retirement of previous supervisor Steve Amrine, the division announced Wednesday it no longer has the resources to trap cats or remove wildlife carcasses in town.

In a Facebook post, the division says it will still provide support where wildlife is causing a nuisance or where a wild animal is injured and needs help. Officers will continue to collect the carcasses of domestic animals within city limits.

The division suggests citizens concerned about a nuisance cat or a cat at large may trap the cat themselves and take the cat to the Laramie Animal Shelter. But the division will no longer loan out cat traps.

Animal Control officers will be staffed during different hours. This past week saw the beginning of duty hours running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Animal control officers will not be on duty on Sundays.

Outside of animal control duty hours, animal-related calls for service will be handled by police officers.

The Laramie Animal Shelter will maintain its regular hours. The shelter is open for adoptions, redemptions and visitors Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The shelter is also open from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

"We appreciate the understanding of our community during this time of adjustment. We are seeking to provide as many of the services citizens have come to expect as possible under our new budgetary and staffing constraints," the post reads. "We greatly appreciate the continued support for the Shelter and we look forward to continued service to our community."

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