Sunnyside staff lay out animal-control options, kennel capacity and training needs

City of Sunnyside officials told the City Council that animal-control services remain in transition after the resignation of the dedicated animal control officer, and staff outlined interim arrangements, capacity constraints and options for a local kennel facility.

Community and Economic Development Director Derek Bratton said code-enforcement staff have been covering animal-control complaints during business hours while police handle nights and weekends. Bratton said staff are prioritizing emergencies—dangerous dogs, injured animals and cruelty reports—and that resource limits mean stray cats are not being impounded under current operations.

Bratton said the city currently has interlocal agreements with Grandview and the Yakima Valley Humane Society for kenneling and transfers. He said the city delivered 56 animals to the Humane Society in 2024 at a cost of $11,960 and that a new Humane Society contract will be presented to council on the 27th. He described a kennel-lease proposal that would secure up to four kennel…