New Ulm Animal Control is a City Public Safety function staffed by two licensed police officers from the New Ulm Police Department. In addition to their regular police duties, they are assigned the part-time animal control duties. Corporal Keith Anderson and Officer Brady Murphy are tasked with investigating and enforcing state and local laws pertaining to animals within the city limits of New Ulm. They are also responsible for picking up stray domestic animals found within the city limits and operating the city animal pound.

On April 17, 2018, the New Ulm City Council adopted an amendment to Section 8.21 of the city code, requiring all dogs and cats to be on a leash when in public rights of way or on public property, with the exception of areas designated by the city as a dog park. You may allow your pets to be off leash on your own property or other private property you have permission to use.

Should your pet be picked up, all stray domestic animals are taken to the city pound and are held for a minimum of five business days, unless they are claimed by their owner(s). New Ulm Animal Control recently received a very generous donation of a microchip reader, which will be used to scan all animals to expedite their return. If an animal is not claimed after five days, the animal, if tame enough, is taken to the New Ulm Regional Veterinary Center, given an examination and then turned over to the Brown County Humane Society to be adopted out. Any domestic animals not tame enough or too sick for adoption are humanely euthanized by the New Ulm Regional Veterinary Center.

The City of New Ulm requires all dogs to be licensed through the city on a yearly basis. The city license must be attached to the dog’s collar. The license can be obtained at the City Finance Office located in City Hall. Pets can be returned to their owners faster when there is a license that we can use to identify the animals owner. There is no license requirement for cats.

We would also like to remind everyone that animal control does not deal with wild animals and that any domestic animal taken in by animal control must have been found within the city limits of New Ulm. Animals found outside of New Ulm should be taken to the Brown County or Blue Earth/Nicollet County Humane Society. Domestic animal adoptions are only available once the animal arrives at the humane society.

Please feel free to contact either Cpl. Anderson or Officer Murphy if you have any animal control questions. Contact can be made by either emailing us (nupd.keith.anderson@co.brown.mn.us) (nupd.brady.murphy@co.brown.mn.us) or contacting the New Ulm Police Department, 507.233.6750 and asking for an animal control officer.

Editor’s Note: The City of New Ulm presents a weekly column highlighting activities in different departments in the city government. Once a month the city will answer questions from readers. Questions on New Ulm city issues can be sent to comments@ci.new-ulm.mn.us.