Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
APAWS director asks McCall council to limit shelter impoundments covered in city contract
Summary
APAWS executive director Courtney asked council to revise the animal-shelter contract to cover up to two impounded animals per case, and to change paid impoundment coverage from 30 days to 14 days to reduce long-term shelter stays and welfare decline.
Courtney, identified as the executive director for APAWS, asked the council to amend the city's shelter contract language to better reflect the operations and welfare goals of the small shelter.
Courtney proposed that the contract explicitly cover up to two animals per impoundment case and that any additional animals be charged at a daily rate because more than two animals per case can strain shelter resources. She said the shelter’s typical capacity is about seven dogs and that extended stays beyond two weeks can lead to behavioral and health decline; she therefore asked the council to reduce the covered impoundment period in the contract from 30 days to 14 days.
Courtney said the request is intended to prioritize animal welfare and prevent animals from “getting lost in the system,” citing an example earlier in the year when coordination with the county led to gaps in moving an impounded husky through the process. She told the council she had made similar requests of county officials and had not yet received a response.
Council members asked clarifying questions about the financial and operational implications and indicated support for the proposed language changes. The council directed staff to bring a clean copy of the revised contract language to the next meeting consent agenda for formal approval.
No final contract vote occurred at this meeting; council direction was to return a revised contract for consent-agenda consideration at the next meeting.
