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Liberty Lake council member urges county review of SCRAPS after euthanasia and parvovirus concerns
Summary
Linda Ball, a Liberty Lake council member, told Spokane County commissioners that SCRAPS—the agency operating the animal control shelter—has had repeated leadership turnover, cited a September 2023 incident in which 13 dogs were euthanized, and reported a recent parvovirus outbreak she said led to five dogs dying or being euthanized; she asked the county to investigate shelter policies and infection control.
Linda Ball, a Liberty Lake city council member, told the Spokane County Board of Commissioners during the Jan. 6 open public forum that she is concerned about conditions and management at the SCRAPS animal control shelter and asked the county to look into the agency's practices.
Ball said her city pays roughly $12,800 a year under an interlocal agreement with SCRAPS and told commissioners the shelter has experienced frequent director turnover. She referenced a September 2023 incident in which she said 13 dogs were euthanized and recounted a more recent parvovirus outbreak that she said spread through the facility and resulted in five dogs either dying or being euthanized.
"How did that disease get into the building?" Ball asked, noting that when she toured the facility in early 2024 she had been told animals were checked on intake for vaccinations and health and that surgical needs were addressed. She said both she and a Spokane council member on the SCRAPS advisory board remain concerned and urged county oversight to determine what is happening at the facility.
Ball requested more information from the shelter and asked the county to "stick your nose in a little deeper into SCRAPS and find out what's going on there," framing her remarks as a plea for transparency and investigation. County staff did not respond during the public forum portion of the transcript.
