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Commissioners agree to revisit Prairie Paws funding, pursue coordinated animal-control plan
Summary
County legal staff and commissioners agreed to ask Prairie Paws to reduce its contracted amount while Riley County develops a countywide animal-control enforcement plan and coordinates ordinances with cities.
County legal staff and commissioners discussed the county’s animal-control arrangements and agreed to reopen contract funding discussions with local shelter Prairie Paws while the county finalizes where enforcement will be housed.
County counselor Brian Parker told the board the county currently lacks an active countywide enforcement mechanism: "we don't have an enforcement mechanism. Nobody's going picking up stray dogs out of the county." Parker said the county previously planned to rely on a city provider but recent changes have shifted that expectation. He recommended pausing or reducing county payments until an enforcement model is in place and budgeted for 2026.
Parker described the likely next steps as engaging Prairie Paws about a reduced contracted amount that preserves shelter capacity while the county and its municipal partners coordinate ordinances and a contracting entity for enforcement. "I think that we're...we should probably figure out what the heck our contracting entity is to provide those services," he said.
The commission agreed the county should seek a temporary reduction in contracted funding rather than pay for services the county cannot yet fully use. Commissioners also asked the counselor's office to help prepare draft ordinance language and coordination points so municipalities and the county can adopt compatible enforcement rules if the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) or another entity assumes countywide enforcement.
No formal motion to terminate the existing arrangement was recorded; commissioners consented to have staff approach Prairie Paws and begin ordinance coordination and planning for a 2026 funding and implementation timeline. Parker said county staff can assemble draft points for an interlocal or service agreement once the law board and partner cities clarify roles.
