Harper Woods council approves animal-control contract with I Heart Dogs Rescue after public questions on pickup, training and costs
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Summary
The Harper Woods City Council approved a service agreement with I Heart Dogs Rescue/Animal Haven to shelter up to 30 animals a year for up to $15,000 annually. Residents and councilmembers pressed city staff on who will pick up animals, training requirements for animal-control officers and how overnight holding will work.
The Harper Woods City Council voted unanimously to approve a service agreement with I Heart Dogs Rescue/Animal Haven that caps payments at $500 per animal and $15,000 annually, enough to shelter up to 30 animals in a year. City Manager Shemanski recommended the contract and said the city can amend it if needs exceed that cap.
The contract is intended to provide shelter, care and adoption services while the city will continue to enforce state and local animal ordinances. "In return, IHDR will provide shelter, care, and adoption services for animals that are candidates for adoption," Shemanski told the council during the presentation. Shemanski also said the city has budgeted approximately $82,000 in 2026 for animal-control purposes and characterized the new $15,000 agreement as a budget savings compared with previous assumptions.
Residents and several councilmembers raised practical concerns during a lengthy discussion before the vote. Public commenter Greg Bargo told the council the draft agreement contains "inconsistencies as to the processes and procedures related to animal control, where the responsibility lies," and pointed out that Harper Woods currently has "no trained animal control officers," citing Michigan's Dog Law of 1919 (Act 339) when asking who would cover the field costs and training.
Police Chief (speaking for the department) described the department's historical role in animal-control responses and said officers have handled pickups for decades. "I've been a police officer here since 2003. We have never had animal control per se," he said, and described a more proactive approach the department has adopted — door-knocking, use of a chip reader to identify owners and coordination with shelters. He said the department will continue to respond to reports and will hold animals at the station overnight if necessary until transfer to the shelter can be arranged.
Councilmembers pressed staff on capacity and costs. Council members were told the $500-per-animal figure is a flat rate arrived at after past cases that required significant medical treatment; the manager said those extraordinary medical costs were sometimes absorbed by the shelter. Councilmembers also asked whether residents could deliver animals directly to the shelter and how the city would handle stray animals taken in outside shelter hours; staff said those operational details would be clarified with the shelter representative, who had been unable to attend the meeting due to illness but is expected at the next council meeting.
The resolution approving the service agreement passed by a roll-call vote with all recorded members voting yes. The council also directed that the city manager and public-safety staff finalize details with the shelter and return with any clarifications or amendments as needed.
What happens next: The contract is to take effect January 1; the manager and the department will continue to refine operational details with the shelter and report back to council. If animal totals exceed the annual cap, the contract can be amended.
