Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Columbia County allows contractor to take surrendered animals at no cost for now; board warns of capacity limits
Summary
Facing an influx of calls, commissioners approved a motion allowing the current contractor (Zoo Tech) to accept surrendered animals at no cost to the county, while warning that the arrangement depends on kennel capacity and could change if intake exceeds expectations.
County staff told the board that the current animal‑enforcement contractor, Zoo Tech, operates under a $300,000 annual contract based on an estimate of about 1,000 dogs per year. Staff said the contractor agreed to accept surrendered animals at no charge to the county for now, to help address a recent influx of phone requests and reports.
Commissioners approved a motion to allow the contractor to take surrendered animals, with the caveat that the contractor will do so only "if there's room" and that the county will monitor any budget impact if intake rises. Staff emphasized that the county is not an adoption or placement facility and that when kennels are full, people may be turned away. Meeting comments included an outline of intake fees the county would charge private citizens if they requested county pickup: $70 for general surrenders and $100 if vaccinations were not current.
Why it matters: the policy change addresses immediate public calls for help and reduces barriers to surrendering animals in distress, but it may increase costs or strain kennel capacity if many residents use the service. The board directed staff to continue monitoring the contractor's capacity and the county's fiscal exposure.
What’s next: staff will monitor intake volumes and report back if the county needs to adjust contract terms or fees.
