FARGO - A Fargo police sergeant wants the city to change the way it handles lost and unwanted animals.

Sgt. Greg Lemke cited cramped dog kennels and a lack of cool air where the animals are housed as some of his reasons calling for a change, according to e-mails obtained by The Forum.

An expanded animal shelter and pound is a possible long-term solution, but Lemke isn't sure Fargo can wait.

"I don't feel the animals should be housed like that for two more years," Lemke wrote in a July 19 e-mail to Lt. Dave Todd.

The city pound is housed in Valley Veterinary Hospital on Main Avenue.

The space sometimes fills up, but supervisor Dr. Terry Stoll said it is adequate.

Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness said he was surprised to find that the city may not have a contract with Valley Vet. Furness said he could only find a memo of understanding between the two parties with no expiration date.

The city pays about $88,000 per year for pound services.

Furness said he needs to take a closer look at the issue before coming up with a long-term plan, but city officials have begun discussing short-term fixes.

One option is to work with Valley Vet to expand or upgrade the current pound. Another would be to end the relationship with Valley Vet and find a new temporary facility, said Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness.

Lemke in his e-mails also complained about his department's lack of training with animal control issues.

"There is a lot of work that needs to be done on laws/ordinances affecting animals and even consistent enforcement of the laws we have," he wrote.

Police Chief Chris Magnus said he's concerned about some of the complaints he's heard.

But there may be a need for the city to clarify what its standards are for keeping stray animals, he added.