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Roosevelt council approves reduced FeLV vaccine fee; shelter reports steady intake and staffing challenges
Summary
The Roosevelt City Council approved a $15 fee to make the feline leukemia (FeLV) vaccine available at the Roosevelt Animal Shelter after a public hearing. Shelter staff reported roughly 1,098 intakes last year, improved reclaim and adoption rates, and ongoing staff turnover and sanitation concerns.
The Roosevelt City Council on an unanimous vote approved a plan to offer the feline leukemia (FeLV) vaccine at the Roosevelt Animal Shelter for $15, a city staff member told the council after a short public hearing.
Council members said the fee is intended to reduce a cost barrier that may keep owners from having cats spayed and vaccinated. Shelter staff said they can acquire the vaccine for roughly $9–$10 and proposed a $15 charge so the public has access while the shelter recoups a small portion of cost.
Shelter staff presented operational figures to the council to accompany the fee proposal. The shelter reported approximately 1,098 animals came into the facility last year, including about 464 dogs and 608 cats; a small number were listed as “other” species. Staff said about 48% of intakes came from within Roosevelt city limits and about 52% came from county jurisdictions (transcript wording). The shelter reported a reclaim rate that rose from about 18% in 2023 to about 57% in 2024 and an adoption rate that increased roughly 5 percentage points year over year. Overall “live outcome” rates rose from about 94% to about 96%.
Staff also told the council the shelter faces high turnover. The presentation said the shelter saw roughly a 62% turnover rate across eight positions and elevated turnover among some full-time cleaning positions. Staff linked turnover to occasional sanitation breaches and said they are pursuing physical changes—such as separate holding space—to reduce disease spread.
Council members asked about transports and partnerships; staff said the shelter continues off-site transfers about twice a month and typically moves roughly 16–24 animals per transfer. Councilors praised staff for improving reclaim and adoption rates and supported making the vaccine available at a reduced fee.
The council moved into a public hearing on the proposed fee; no members of the public spoke. After the public hearing the council approved the fee.
Council action on the fee was unanimous.
