Health & Safety Committee: District 3 Board Member Pushes for Expanded Animal Control Services in Monee, Crete

Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | February 5, 2026

Article Summary: Will County Board Member Daniel J. Butler (District 3) urged Animal Protection Services to establish intergovernmental agreements with eastern Will County municipalities to handle stray animals, though county officials cited capacity constraints.

Animal Protection Services Discussion Key Points:

• Service Gaps: Municipalities including Crete, Monee, and Steger are currently housing stray animals in police station storage rooms because they lack an agreement with the county to take them.

• Facility Constraints: Director Anna Payton stated the county facility, despite being new, was built with only five dog kennels and cannot currently handle increased intake volume.

• Intake Surge: Animal intake has risen significantly, from 575 animals in 2022 to approximately 900 in recent years.

• Proposed Solution: Butler suggested establishing remote holding locations or “pounds” managed by local municipalities but overseen by the county to reduce travel time and liability.

JOLIET, IL – The Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee engaged in a debate on Tuesday, February 5, 2026, regarding the lack of animal control services for several eastern Will County municipalities.

District 3 Board Member Daniel J. Butler pressed Animal Protection Services Director Anna Payton to secure Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) for the villages of Crete, Monee, and Steger. Butler argued that without these agreements, local police departments are forced to house stray animals in “store rooms in the back of the police station” while officers attempt to find homes for them independently.

“These people love animals… but when they can’t [find homes], what are they supposed to do? Leave them in a closet?” Butler asked during the meeting.

While some municipalities, including Beecher and Manhattan, currently have agreements in place, and Frankfort has a limited agreement for wildlife rabies control, other towns remain without comprehensive county support for stray intakes.

Payton acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but cited severe space and staffing limitations at the county’s facility. She noted that despite the building being relatively new, it was not designed to house a high volume of animals, containing only five dog kennels.

“We can’t take in more animals and not provide humane housing,” Payton said. She added that intake numbers have jumped from 575 in 2022 to 900 recently, and attempts to contract with local veterinary hospitals for overflow space have yielded zero interest.

Butler proposed a decentralized approach, suggesting the county appoint “pound masters” to oversee remote facilities operated by willing municipalities, specifically citing Monee’s willingness to provide a building. He argued this would reduce the travel burden on officers and leverage local resources.

Payton pushed back on the terminology, noting that “pound” is an antiquated term, and emphasized that modern animal control involves complex legal holds, medical care, and adoption programs that are difficult to manage across multiple remote sites.

“I’m not saying your idea is wrong or bad,” Payton told Butler. “I’m saying we need to flush out the logistics and operational and financial side.”

Payton stated that the department is currently working with GIS to create a “heat map” of response calls to better understand the county’s needs. She expects to have data available for the committee within the next two months to help guide future strategic decisions regarding facility expansion or operational changes.