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Committee discusses shifting animal-control role; members favor control over sheltering

2844039 · April 2, 2025

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Summary

Budget committee members debated whether the county should operate an animal control program or continue volunteer-run sheltering; several members favored focusing county resources on animal control/enforcement rather than running a shelter.

Committee members debated restructuring the county’s animal services after the sheriff and county staff described operational problems with the current volunteer-run shelter model on April 14.

Members said volunteers have converted the county’s animal-control role into a de facto shelter, which has caused friction and inconsistent enforcement. Several commissioners said county government should prioritize animal control and public safety—issuing citations and enforcing leash and licensing rules—rather than operating a full shelter. The sheriff and others said the county needs the ability to issue citations; staff described instances where volunteers or informal shelter operations limited the county’s enforcement tools.

Committee members discussed possible paths: (1) transfer shelter operations to a nonprofit or 501(c)(3) humane organization to provide long-term shelter care and fundraising; (2) restructure county duties to emphasize animal control, enforcement and public safety; or (3) retain a hybrid model with clearer county oversight. No final decision was made; members agreed to continue discussions and to involve the volunteers and shelter stakeholders in follow-up conversations.