TOWN OF RICHMOND, WI — Emotions ran high at Monday night’s Town of Richmond board meeting as residents and officials gathered to discuss the recent handling of two stray dogs and broader concerns surrounding animal control in the township.
The meeting opened with a 20-minute public comment session, where multiple residents spoke out—both in support of and in opposition to how local authorities handled the situation involving two stray dogs that were ultimately euthanized by Town Supervisor Ken Damveld.
According to statements made during the meeting and from incident reports, the dogs had been roaming the area for several days, exhibiting aggressive behavior and resisting capture. Many residents argued that Damveld followed protocol and acted within the law to protect public safety. Others, however, questioned whether all alternatives were exhausted before the animals were put down.
“We have a list of people in town with the tools and experience to handle dogs of all temperaments,” one speaker said, referring to a volunteer network recently assembled to assist with such cases. “They’re available 24/7 and want to help. Why weren’t they called?”
One resident urged the board to consider removing Damveld from handling future animal-related cases, while others pointed out that the current constable is frequently out of town, leaving a gap in animal control response. The suggestion was made to allow volunteers to handle such issues until a new constable can be appointed.
Supporters of Damveld defended his actions, citing Wisconsin law which allows the humane euthanization of aggressive animals. “He tried for days to catch them,” one man stated. “They had no collars, no tags, and posed a real danger. We shouldn’t wait until someone is attacked before taking action.”
Tensions flared at times as accusations of harassment, misinformation on social media, and emotional rhetoric collided with legal and procedural concerns.
“These dogs could have had rabies,” one speaker said. “If they attacked a child or elderly person, people would be outraged. Ken did what he had to do.”
Representatives from local animal welfare groups, including the Shawano County Humane Society, pushed back. “We take in stray dogs for free. We found homes for 258 strays last year and euthanized none,” one woman said. “We’re here. We’re available. We could have helped.”
The question of whether the dogs had been scanned for microchips post-mortem was raised but went unanswered. Some residents also shared that they had rehomed dogs in the past and wanted to be more involved in future efforts to prevent such outcomes.
“This issue has highlighted serious gaps in our township’s animal control policies,” said another speaker. “We need to modernize our laws and procedures.”
The Town of Richmond board did not make any immediate decisions during the meeting but acknowledged the public’s concerns. The issue will likely be revisited in future sessions.
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