County approves $50,000 transfer from animal shelter legacy fund for licensing/adoption campaign; updates interlocal agreements with municipalities

Oakland County’s Public Services Department asked the committee to transfer $50,000 from the Animal Shelter Pet Adoption Legacy Fund to support a public awareness and advertising campaign aimed at increasing dog license sales and adoptions. The committee approved the transfer.

Shelter staff described a three-pronged approach: expand sales channels (including a planned contract with DocuPet), pursue state legislative changes to ease licensing and adoption processes, and a public-awareness campaign developed with the county Department of Public Communications. Staff said dog license sales are down since COVID and that the legacy account holds more than $1 million; they requested $50,000 to finance the initial advertising push, including video spots filmed with local athletes.

Staff also presented proposed interlocal-agreement changes for roughly 11 municipalities that do not purchase full shelter services or sell county dog licenses. The proposed additions—vetted by county counsel—would require municipalities to (1) ensure sick or injured animals are first evaluated and treated by a licensed veterinary facility before transfer to the county shelter; (2) retrieve animals requiring medical attention by the business day’s end if boarded on the municipality’s behalf; (3) reimburse the county for medical or emergency treatment administered by county personnel; and (4) confirm whether an animal is an owner “give-up” prior to transport; the county may suspend intake of give-ups from a municipality when the shelter is at capacity.

Shelter staff said the interlocal changes aim to reduce unanticipated medical costs and shelter capacity pressures; only one municipality (Southfield) had called with questions prior to the presentation and no community had formally objected. The committee approved the transfer and the proposed interlocal agreement updates and fee adjustments.