Animal control contract with Pick of the Litter rises $6,000 annually as cruelty cases climb

Jamestown — City staff and a department chief told the City Council that the municipality’s contract with Pick of the Litter increased by $500 per month (about $6,000 a year) and that rising animal-cruelty caseloads could raise future costs.

A department representative said the contract increase was communicated to staff after the draft was prepared and noted the city has seen “a lot more animal cruelty cases,” which can extend shelter-hold periods for animals until court resolution. The department noted that in cruelty cases animals sometimes remain housed for long periods — “you've had some dogs who've been there for a couple of years” — and that extended housing increases cost.

Councilors asked who negotiated the increase; staff said an employee named Elliot handled the contract work and that staff had only recently been informed of the change. Councilors and staff discussed that there appear to be few local alternatives for long-term holding in cruelty cases, and that the city will monitor the budget impact for 2026.

No procurement action or contract amendment vote was taken at the session; staff said they would follow up with more detail on contract terms and alternatives if available.