Nearly 700 people attended a town hall meeting Monday to discuss the embattled King County animal-shelter system, with dozens speaking their minds before the County Council.
A total of 74 people spoke in regard to joint proposals released last week by county Executive Ron Sims and the council at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien.
One of the proposals calls for the county spending an additional $965,000 for its Animal Services Care and Control Division this year, while the other speaks to development of a long-term master plan for improvements to the shelter system.
Animal Services Care and Control oversees operation of the county’s two shelters, one in Kent and the other in Bellevue.
Funding for the improvements would include $570,000 from a county animal-benefit fund that has grown for more than 20 years from public donations. The rest of the money would come from the county’s capital improvement budget.
The council is considering major changes in the county’s shelter system since receiving critical reports by consultant Nathan Winograd last month and by a citizens’ advisory committee in October. Winograd stated in his report that “the county has failed for more than a decade to take the necessary steps to reform the shelters.” The advisory committee called shelter conditions “deplorable” in its report.
“The short relief will not solve the long-term challenges,” Councilman Dow Constantine told the crowd prior to public testimony, of the need for long-term planning. “We need a blueprint to move forward. We want a model with the highest care where no animal with a chance to recover should be killed, period. That will be our standard.”
That statement drew applause from the audience, as did a puppy brought to the meeting by council member Reagan Dunn, who said his family adopted it from a shelter in Yakima.
But not all the crowd’s reaction was positive.
Several volunteers from the county shelters spoke out against some of the funding proposals that Sims is outlining for this year.
One of those expenditures is to bring a consultant on board, to oversee improvements to the shelter system.
“You’re spending $85,000 for a consultant, that’s wrong,” said Doug Parker, a volunteer at the Crossroads shelter in Bellevue, noting what the county is opting to spend for the expert. Parker added more money should be spent on shelter medical programs to help animals, rather than on an official.
Shelby Russell-Diaz, a county animal-control officer, disagreed with the Council even hiring consultants.
“We’re lacking resources and training,” Russell said. “Don’t throw more money at consultants to tell you something we’ve been telling you for 20 years.”
A few residents told the council they were concerned what would happen if the county got out of the shelter business and instead contracted with a private agency for animal services.
Derek Yoshinaka, of Kent and volunteer at the county’s Kent shelter, wanted to know what would happen to the numerous dogs he said are rejected by animal-rescue groups as too tough to adopt, if a private agency takes over the shelters and only accepts adoptable dogs. As a public shelter, the county accepts all dogs and cats brought to the facility. Private agencies also usually charge a fee to take an animal, he said.
“You need to keep open a no-fee facility to give animals a chance,” Yoshinaka noted.
Contact Steve Hunter at 253-872-6600, ext.5052 or shunter@reporternewspapers.com.
Funding for King County animal shelters
The proposal by King County Executive Ron Sims for $965,000 in additional funds in 2008 for Animal Care and Control includes:
• New portable dog runs: $200,000.
• Expanded spay neuter services at shelters, one veterinarian, one veterinary technician: $125,000.
• Improved care at shelters, one full-time officer, two temporary: $125,000.
• Develop facilities master plan: $100,000.
• Independent consultant to oversee improvements: $85,000.
• New cat cages: $65,000.
• Expanded spay-neuter services in community: $45,000.
• Communications outreach, one full-time staffperson: $45,000.
• Animal-placement specialist: $45,000.
• Animal volunteer coordinator: $40,000.
• Eastside medical support, one veterinarian, one veterinary technician: $40,000.
• Replace truck-transport boxes: $30,000.
• Animal flow plan: $10,000.
• Enhanced medical program: $10,000.
Animal shelter master plan
The proposal by Sims to develop an Animal Care and Control master plan for 2009 through 2011 and help decide whether the county should stay in the sheltering business includes:
• A task force with members from the Executive branch, County Council, Public Health, Sheriff’s and Prosecutor’s offices.
• A strategic plan to determine goals, who and how animal services are provided and which county department oversees the plan.
• An operational plan to decide whether to provide animal services as currently organized, reorganize within other county departments or work in partnership with private providers.
• A facilities plan to determine whether a new shelter should be built, where to build it, and a plan for financing construction.
• Master plan to be submitted to Council by Aug. 15, 2008.
