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Sunnyside staff lay out animal-control options, kennel capacity and training needs
Summary
City staff updated the council on animal-control coverage since the prior animal control officer resigned, detailed costs and kennel options, and recommended short-term reliance on partner kennels while exploring a regional facility on a city-owned parcel.
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 spaces per month for a flat monthly fee from the humane society.
Why it matters: Animal-control capacity affects public safety, animal welfare and city operational costs. Councilors pressed staff for clarity on licensing revenue, enforcement options for repeat offenders and the potential to use volunteers or community groups to reduce labor costs.
Key points - The city delivered 56 animals to the Yakima Valley Humane Society in 2024; the invoiced cost to the city that year was $11,960. Bratton said the next Humane Society contract would be presented to council for approval. - Bratton reported that the Humane Society agreement would secure up to four kennel beds for a flat monthly fee of $1,000; beds do not “stack” month to month. - Two city kennels (kept near the police vehicle yard) are serviceable but need work and better weather protection; Bratton said converting or adding structures on the city-owned Tucker Sellers parcel (about 2.72 acres) could create a local kennel and dog runs for an estimated $5,000–$15,000 depending on scale. - Training to certify two code-enforcement staff in animal-control enforcement is a near-term cost (a five‑day program in Burien with total out-of-pocket of roughly $3,000–$5,000 for travel, lodging and fees). Bratton recommended the training to ensure legal compliance and investigative skills.
Enforcement and policy discussion - Councilors raised stronger penalties and repeat-offender approaches. Councilor Beeler suggested a progressive “three strikes” policy; Deputy Mayor Galvan urged the city to review and increase fines and consider limiting or banning commercial breeding and sales in city limits. - Council and staff discussed volunteer models (4‑H groups, community service hours) and use of donations (Festival of Trees proceeds identified as a potential dedicated fund) to defray kennel costs. Finance staff confirmed some fundraising proceeds exist (Festival of Trees fundraising) but designated balances need to be located in the city accounting records.
Decisions and next steps - Staff will present the Humane Society contract to council on the agenda dated the 27th and will return with more precise figures on licensing revenue, citation history and the status of any earmarked fundraising dollars. - Bratton will continue discussions with neighboring cities about a regional approach and explore feasibility of a small kennel structure on the Tucker Sellers parcel; staff noted such a project could take three to six months depending on complexity.
Quote (attributed) - Derek Bratton, Community and Economic Development Director: “Due to resource limitations at this time, we have to prioritize basically, our responses to animal control complaints because we we'd have very limited resources.”
Ending: Council members signaled support for a multi-pronged approach—speed up staff training and the new humane-society contract, pursue short-term kennel capacity via partner agreements and explore volunteers and a modest local kennel as a medium-term option—while directing staff to return with more detailed license revenue and citation data for 2024.
