Animal control struggling with backlog

Indianapolis Animal Care & Control is so understaffed that it has a backlog of 700 unanswered runs and has an average response time of 13 days when called about a stray animal, department records show. "We cannot even come close to catching up, let alone be proactive to solve all the other animal-related issues with the amount of man power and limited resources we are allowed," control officer Doug Sanford said. The department employs 18 patrol officers to tackle the nearly 40,000 calls it receives each year. The department said volunteers are desperately needed.