Mark (Animal Services director) and Robin (staff) updated the court on multiple grants and an adoption partnership intended to reduce pet homelessness and return animals to their owners.

The court received fully executed Best Friends grant agreements described in the meeting as: Partner Up Challenge, Network Neighborhood Kits, and Paul’s in the Field Challenge. The court also received a Department of State Health Services zoonosis control spay and neuter grant for $9,700.

Mark said the Best Friends grants will fund outreach and microchipping efforts and help “get animals back home to keep them home.” He described partnerships with rescue groups and noted PetSmart Charities’ sponsorship of a National Adoption Week event running at a local PetSmart store that week; he said “all adoptions are free because they’ve been sponsored.”

On the DSHS spay and neuter grant, Mark said the program targets senior citizens and veterans who need financial help to care for pets. He described the state application as lengthy—“242 pages, just on a side note”—and said the county’s grant writer and a national committee are pushing for simpler application processes so smaller jurisdictions can apply.

Commissioners and Mark praised staff and partners. The court moved and seconded a motion to receive the fully executed Best Friends agreements and the DSHS grant; the motion carried.

The animal services director emphasized the department’s continuing work on loose-dog responses, microchipping and field return operations. Commissioners noted positive community feedback about recent animal services performance and encouraged continued partnership and outreach efforts.

The DSHS grant and Best Friends agreements are intended to expand low-cost or no-cost spay/neuter services, microchipping and return-to-field work; staff said rapid expenditure of the DSHS award would position the county for potential additional state funding next year.