Stray dogs and cats will likely have a new nemesis later this year.

That's because Fort Dodge and Webster County officials hope to have a new animal control officer on the job.

The new officer will replace Craig Finlayson, who resigned on April 23. He was hired last October to replace Jerry Messerly, who died Aug. 21, 2008. Messerly had been the animal control officer since 1992.

Currently, city police officers and sheriff's deputies are handling calls for loose animals.

While members of the public who need help with some wayward critter probably won't notice anything different, local leaders are planning a new approach to putting an animal control officer to work.

Previous people who held that job had contracts with both the city and county governments. The next animal control officer will have a contract with the county only and the city will pay 70 percent of the costs.

''It's just another example of the city and county working together on a mutually beneficial contract,'' said county Supervisor Bob Singer.

City Manager David Fierke said having just one contract makes sense. He added that placing that contract with the county makes the position a countywide one and eliminates any potential questions about where the officer has legal jurisdiction to work.

Leaders of Badger, Barnum, Callender, Clare, Dayton, Duncombe, Gowrie, Harcourt, Lehigh, Moorland and Otho will be contacted about the possibility of using the services of the new animal control officer, according to Singer.

Fort Dodge officials are currently working on the contract documents related to hiring a new animal control officer. Singer said the county supervisors hope to get those documents by the end of the week.

Fierke said a May 20 deadline has tentatively been set for receiving bids from anyone interested in providing animal control services.

Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net