LaSalle County Public Safety Committee members heard concerns about growing pressure on animal-control services and limited options for housing stray animals as local veterinary clinics are increasingly owned by corporate entities.

An animal-control presenter described IVAR as handling the majority of the county's animal-care load and said the two owners are older and looking to slow down. The speaker warned staffing is the biggest bottleneck. "They're kinda looking to the future of who they're gonna pass it on to or, who's gonna continue to manage it," the presenter said, and added that owners would prefer the county take over the facility but that the presenter did not favor county ownership because private operators are often more efficient.

The presenter sketched possible approaches: a formal contract with private entities to reserve kennel spaces for county animals, hiring county employees who could assist at contracted facilities, or other formalized management agreements. The presenter noted intake is sporadic — some weeks 1 or 2 animals, other times 4–7 after evictions — and cautioned that creating a county shelter could increase abandonments if residents view it as a disposal option.

Committee members asked for additional ideas and the presenter asked colleagues to share suggestions after the meeting. Chair moved and the committee voted to place the animal-control report on file and to pay related bills.

Why it matters: The county lacks a standalone shelter and relies on a small number of private providers; consolidation in the veterinary market and limited staffing could reduce available options, requiring formal agreements or other county-level planning.