Mason County and Joint Animal Services discuss contract to shift animal-control workload from sheriff’s deputies

Mason County commissioners on Tuesday discussed whether to contract with Joint Animal Services (JAS) to handle much of the county—s animal-control calls, a step county staff and the sheriff—s office said would free deputies to focus on higher-priority human-safety calls. The commission asked staff to produce a draft contract for review and signoff, with payments postponed until JAS hires and trains staff to begin service.

County staff described the arrangement as a two-year contract option the commission considered earlier this year and said it would reduce deputies— time spent on non-human-crime calls. The sheriff—s office representative, speaking about current capacity, said, "We are limited in our resources, so we respond to calls for service that are involving life and…