Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control Contract topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County plans contract with Olympic Peninsula Humane Society for housing dangerous dogs; reservation fee and daily rates outlined
Summary
The sheriff's office presented a proposed contract with the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society to house dangerous dogs seized under county code, including a quarterly reservation fee and a $49 daily care rate when animals are housed.
County staff told the Board of County Commissioners on July 14 they will place a contract with the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society on an upcoming consent agenda to provide housing and care for dangerous dogs seized under county code.
Tiffany Bauke, the county animal control officer, explained the contract is narrower than prior humane society contracts and covers only court- or code-mandated custody of animals that meet the county’s definition of "dangerous dog." "This is a different contract than our previous humane society contracts. This is for the specific service of housing a dangerous dog, which has a definition, under county code," Bauke said.
Contract structure and costs: staff described a two-part payment structure. The county will pay a reservation fee to hold kennel space available (staff described an approximate quarterly reservation payment of about $1,000) and will pay a daily care rate when animals are actually housed. Bauke said the agreed daily rate is $49 and "that includes the staff time. That includes the animal food and, treats and toys and, the things that go along with keeping an animal." The county can house such animals for up to 20 days under county code, she said.
Use and limits: Bauke said the humane society will not be used for stray intake or owner surrenders under this contract; it covers only the sheriff's mandated requirement to hold dangerous animals. "We will not be housing strays or owner surrenders under this contract. This is just for this specific purpose for our mandated requirement to hold a dangerous animal," she said.
Operational safeguards and training: staff told commissioners the humane society has remote-access-style kennel doors and that the society agreed to specific staff training for handling dangerous animals. Dr. Linda Allen, a local veterinarian, was cited as having helped temporarily with kennel space in the past but is not proposed as a long-term housing partner.
Next steps: staff said the contract is planned as a trial through 2026 to assess usage and terms; they will bill the county for animals housed (daily rate plus any medical expenses incurred). No formal vote occurred on July 14; staff will bring the contract forward for formal approval at a subsequent meeting.
