Sumner is considering entering an agreement with Puyallup and Metro Animal Services which would more clearly outline the way animal control is handled.

Metro Animal Services provides animal control for Sumner, Puyallup, Bonney Lake and Edgewood.

A topic of discussion at the Oct. 25 regular study session was the role of Sumner police in animal control. Jason Wilson, the administrative manager at the Sumner Police Department, said officers are not allowed to physically trap an animal, but if an animal is already trapped, police are allowed to collect it.

The agreement states the police department’s role in enforcement of animal control laws. After regular business hours of Metro Animal Services, which is between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, police may contact individuals who are in violation. If the police witness a violation occurring between the work hours, they may enforce them at the time.

The reason for the division of enforcement, according to the agreement, is to provide a cost-effective system which avoids duplication of control services between the entities.