Pasco officials report on new Tri‑Cities animal shelter operations; Kennewick seeks clearer interlocal reporting

Pasco City officials and the Tri‑Cities animal services team updated the Kennewick City Council on April 8 about the new regional animal shelter and current animal control operations. Pasco said the facility relocated animals into the new shelter on March 25 and is operating animal control, shelter intake, volunteer programs and community outreach for Kennewick, Pasco and Richland under an interlocal agreement.

Why it matters: the shelter provides animal control and public‑safety functions across three cities and has recurring budget and operational implications for Kennewick. Council members asked for clearer, regular reporting under the interlocal agreement and sought detail about the city’s financial contribution to the facility.

What officials reported Pasco Assistant City Manager Angela Pichon and shelter staff said Pasco assumed direct operation of shelter and animal control management beginning in 2022 and moved to the new facility March 25, 2025. Ben Zigan, animal services manager, said animal control provides emergency response for sick, injured and dangerous animals, nuisance investigations, cruelty investigations and public education. The shelter’s public hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; after‑hours responses use an answering service and an on‑call officer for emergencies.

Operations, staffing and numbers Officials reported the shelter…