Yamhill County commissioners direct staff to refine dog-control plan, seek short-term kennel contracts and funding

Yamhill County commissioners discussed options to stabilize the countys dog-control program during a Sept. 11 work session, directing staff to continue negotiations with current kenneling partners and return contract recommendations to the board quickly.

The discussion centered on three program components: field enforcement of state law and county code, administration (licensing and clerical functions), and kenneling/care for impounded animals. Sheriff Sam Elliott said the county must first define what a county-run dog-control program would look like, then fill in contracts and kenneling arrangements to match that structure. "I really think that we should start with what does a Yamhill County dog control program look like from an administrative standpoint," Elliott said.

Why it matters: County staff and the sheriff said the current program is structurally underfunded. Licensing revenue has fallen from more than $200,000 a year historically to roughly $60,000 in the most recent year; the dog-control account now shows an ongoing deficit (staff cited a $233,000 shortfall compared with about $70,000…