CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Employee health benefits are a common topic of discussion for municipal governments.

However, St. Albans City Council's proposal introduced Monday night would literally mean the city's insurance benefits would be going to the dogs.

Councilman Desper Lemon said the recent injury of one of the police department's K-9 officers required $2,500 in dental work to fix. In order to defray similar expenditures in the future, he proposed having the animals covered by a health insurance policy.

City Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Cunningham said the proposal was not quite so novel and the city had considered it previously.

"We have not had anything like this is the past, it's been so expensive," she said. "But we'll be happy to get some numbers together."

Councilwoman Loretta Griffith said she already had three policy quotes from different insurance companies for consideration.

"We need to insure these animals," she said. "We need to protect them from potential harm from the public."

Councilman Gary Vance said he wanted to get input from some of the other police departments with canine officers - such as the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department - to see how they fund veterinary care.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Employee health benefits are a common topic of discussion for municipal governments.

However, St. Albans City Council's proposal introduced Monday night would literally mean the city's insurance benefits would be going to the dogs.

Councilman Desper Lemon said the recent injury of one of the police department's K-9 officers required $2,500 in dental work to fix. In order to defray similar expenditures in the future, he proposed having the animals covered by a health insurance policy.

City Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Cunningham said the proposal was not quite so novel and the city had considered it previously.

"We have not had anything like this is the past, it's been so expensive," she said. "But we'll be happy to get some numbers together."

Councilwoman Loretta Griffith said she already had three policy quotes from different insurance companies for consideration.

"We need to insure these animals," she said. "We need to protect them from potential harm from the public."

Councilman Gary Vance said he wanted to get input from some of the other police departments with canine officers - such as the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department - to see how they fund veterinary care.

"We do have a substantial investment in these tools of law enforcement," he said. "It would be prudent to consult with these other offices."

Vance said the dogs are already insured up to $1 million in liability coverage if they injure or bite someone.

In other business, City Attorney Charles Riffee was asked to research the possibility of rewriting the city charter to require stricter attendance by city council members.

Lemon said the ordinance committee wanted the charter changed so a council member could be removed from office if they missed more than three consecutive meetings or more than five in a calendar year.

Councilman John Caudill said he could not support the proposition because it did not have an exception for individuals experiencing long-term medical problems.

Riffee said he would report back to council but said the process for changing the charter would be substantial.

Council also announced the city's Halloween trick or treating would be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 30.