FARMINGTON — The towns of Farmington and Wilton have made a change in animal control coverage.

A new agreement provides backup coverage on nights and weekends, Town Manager Richard Davis told Farmington’s Board of Selectmen this week.

The board unanimously accepted an agreement with Jennifer Farrington of Jay to serve as an alternate animal control officer.

Wayne Atwood of Jay will continue to serve as animal control officer for the towns.

Starting Oct. 1, Atwood will cover the towns weekdays from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Farrington will cover weeknights from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and weekends.

People in those towns with animal complaints will need to call the Franklin County Communications Center at 778-6140. Dispatchers will notify the animal control officer on duty.

Wilton’s Board of Selectpersons approved the change in coverage last week.

Funds for the position will be split, Davis said. Farmington will pay Atwood $355 per month and Farrington $355 per month for their services.

Wilton is also splitting the amount funded for animal control services.

Farrington is currently an administrative assistant for the Wilton Police Department.

Although she and her husband, Scott, live in Jay, the Wilton line is in her backyard, she said.

The couple raise dairy goats, poultry and turkeys, she said. They also have a dog and some cats on the Route 156 farm they’ve owned the past dozen years, she said.

“With my background with livestock, I think I would make a good fit for the position,” she said. “I bring some good experience.”

Farrington started the animal control training needed for the position this summer in New Hampshire. She will finish with training offered by Maine’s Animal Welfare Program this fall, she said.

According to the agreement with Farmington, training is left to Farrington to achieve and pay for.

Although she’s looking forward to taking on the animal control work, she loves the part-time work at Wilton Police Department, she said. She’s held the position for about a year and a half and intends to continue.

She was formerly a medical and legal transcriptionist who worked from her home. Then she worked for Farmington attorney Paul Mills.

When the Wilton position became available, she felt the part-time hours were good for her and it was close to home, she said.

In her own time, she’s an avid knitter, weaver and quilter. She previously made her own soap to sell at area craft fairs, but there just isn’t time anymore, she said.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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