It’s time for King County to get out of the animal shelter business, according to three Metropolitan King County Council members who support the concept of joining with a community agency to provide shelter services.
A final report on the issue, released Monday, includes a proposed reorganization among three options for the council to consider. Council members Reagan Dunn, Julia Patterson and Dow Constantine favor abandoning the existing shelter system that Patterson said “isn’t working, and frankly hasn’t worked for years.”
“We need to find a better solution for sheltering animals,” said Dunn, whose district includes Maple Valley, Covington and Black Diamond. “I will closely monitor how a (different) program would affect our rural areas and make sure that what is developed is fiscally sound.”
Council members were scheduled to be briefed Monday on the “King County Animal Services Strategic Plan and Operational Master Plan 2009-11” developed over the past four months by a work group with representatives of the county executive, the council, the Seattle-King County Public Health Department, the Sheriff Department and the prosecuting attorney. Community representatives provided comments on the final report.
Under the option backed by Patterson, Constantine and Dunn, the council would study changing a county-based shelter system – which has been under fire for shortcomings in the care of animals – to a community-based services model:
• King County would seek a community partner to deliver a program.
• The county would retain its other current responsibilities and divide them among the branches of county government with the appropriate skills and authority in those areas. For example, the Sheriff Department could investigate animal-cruelty cases and animal attacks. And the Health Department could take over inspection and licensing of pet shops and kennels in unincorporated areas and cities that contract with the county for animal-control services. The Health Department would retain responsibility for control of communicable disease and oversight of rabies quarantine.
• The Records and Licensing Services Division could take over pet licensing.
The cost for creating such a community partnership would be determined through negotiations.
King County provides animal services to 34 cities by contract. Under any transition, the county would negotiate on behalf of cities interested in a collective agreement with a partner agency. Cities are also free to provide their own animal services.
In the past year, consultants and a citizens’ review committee have heavily criticized the county’s existing animal shelter and related programs.
“It makes no sense to try to prop up a system that has proven to be incapable of the dramatic change needed,” said Constantine. “If King County is holding itself out as providing shelter, it has an absolute obligation to provide the animals with humane care, medical treatment and the best chance to be adopted into a loving home. Nothing less is acceptable.”
