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Council directs staff to negotiate expanded CARES animal‑control contract; staff outline alternatives
Summary
After a presentation on options ranging from expanding the CARES contract to returning to an in‑house animal control officer or contracting with RASK, council members signaled support for staff to negotiate an expanded CARES contract (roughly $80k increase estimated for 40 hours/week service) and to revisit full sheltering when CARES capacity increases.
Police Chief Ted Bowe told council on Dec. 4 that animal‑control services shifted from an in‑house model to a contract model after 2019 retirements and that the city reduced CARES services in 2025 amid budget pressures. He presented four options: (1) expand the CARES contract to restore more traditional animal‑control services (staff‑recommended option, estimated ~$80,000 additional annual cost to provide approximately 40 hours/week of service, 24/7 emergency response and limited sheltering capacity); (2.5) negotiate expanded sheltering with CARES after their planned 2026 facility expansion; (3) add an in‑house limited‑commission Animal Control Officer (FTE) with vehicle, training and vet contract; or (4) contract with RASK for full‑service regional coverage (estimated city cost ~ $237,000 after licensing offsets).
Chief Bowe noted regional shelter capacity constraints (local shelters often at capacity) and that CARES previously handled about 200 animals a year from Des Moines under a prior full‑service contract. Council questioned current call volumes, licensing revenue potential, and whether CARES could help boost licensing and microchipping; staff said CARES would support market events and licensing/compliance as part of an expanded contract. Several council members indicated support for directing staff to negotiate an expanded CARES contract and return to council with a proposed agreement and financial details; staff said a negotiated contract could be brought back to council for approval within weeks and would be timed to align with public‑safety sales‑tax rollouts if applicable.
