Tulsa Animal Welfare Commission backs updated animal-services fee schedule, will send proposal to city council

The Tulsa Animal Welfare Commission voted March 10 to recommend an updated fee schedule for Tulsa Animal Services and directed staff to forward the proposal to the City Council for consideration.

Commissioner Christine Coonsweiler, chair of the commission, moved to accept the proposed fee schedule during the meeting; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. "I move we accept these proposed fees," Coonsweiler said before the vote.

The commission’s recommendation updates a fee schedule the presenters said has not been revised since 02/2008 and would raise several charges to help the shelter recoup rising personnel, fuel and veterinary costs. Staff described increases in impound and daily-housing fees, a new one-time rabies-observation fee for animals held for bite investigations, higher sterilization deposits and a broader restructuring of adoption and permit charges.

Why it matters: Tulsa Animal Services staff told the commission the department has been operating with rates that have not kept pace with costs for nearly two decades. Staff said the changes are intended to reduce reliance on general funds for routine shelter operations and to create clearer, consolidated fees for adoption services and commercial permits.

In presenting the schedule, staff framed several categories of change: modest increases to impound and daily housing fees for small companion animals and a new daily fee structure for large and livestock animals contracted out to a third party; a higher charge to cover staff time for inspections tied to court-ordered dangerous-dog certificates; a one-time rabies-observation fee for quarantined animals; and substantially higher initial and renewal permit fees for commercial animal establishments (boarding/grooming and pet dealers).

Staff also said the schedule reduces fees for owners who take steps that make reunification easier — for example, microchipping, visible tags or branding for livestock — and allows case-by-case reductions for long-stay, medical or senior-animal adoptions. The commission heard that sterilization-deposit policies will be adjusted (staff said the deposit had previously been $150 and will be raised; a recently announced citation amount of $250 was discussed during the meeting).

A staff member described operational limits and partnerships: small livestock occasionally are sheltered at the city facility but cattle and horses are handled under an MOU with a contracted livestock facility; the new fees would cover the contractor costs and staff time to retrieve, care for and return large animals. Staff also said Tulsa Animal Services has an existing relationship with the Tulsa SPCA for owner-requested euthanasia and for handling deceased animals and cremation arrangements.

Public comment addressed spay/neuter access. Patty Mandrell, a member of the public who spoke during the comment period, urged broader spay/neuter efforts and said, "Until we get serious about spay neuter, I just don't — this all seems kind of window dressing," arguing that intact animals drive shelter intake. Commissioners and staff acknowledged spay/neuter as a major driver of intake and said education and coordination with local animal-welfare partners are part of the broader work plan.

Next steps: Commission staff said they will check the City Council schedule and forward the recommended fee package for council consideration. Commissioners asked staff to notify the commission of the council hearing date once scheduled.

Votes at a glance: The commission adopted a motion to recommend the proposed fee schedule to the City Council; the motion was moved by Commissioner Christine Coonsweiler, seconded and passed on a voice vote at the March 10 meeting.

Ending: Commissioners and staff said they will continue community outreach and clarify the ordinance language tied to commercial-license categories before the schedule is presented to the council, and staff said upgrades to licensing software are under discussion to improve compliance and collection.