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SCRAPS seeks contract with Pet Emergency Clinic, asks board to authorize higher spending cap
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Summary
County animal-control staff asked the Board of County Commissioners to award an emergency veterinary services contract to Pet Emergency Clinic (PEC) and sought authority to exceed the usual $50,000 threshold to ensure continuous emergency care for animals in SCRAPS custody.
SCRAPS staff asked the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners on April 28 to award a contract for emergency veterinary services to the Pet Emergency Clinic, which is the shelter’s current primary clinic for urgent animal care. The presenter said SCRAPS does not have a veterinarian on staff and relies on outside clinics for stabilization, pain management and other emergency interventions.
SCRAPS’ presenter told the board annual spending under the contract is likely to exceed $50,000; staff noted that SCRAPS’ 2025 emergency veterinary spending totaled just over $65,000. To limit costs, SCRAPS uses a pre-authorization form that allows clinics to provide up to $500 in immediate services for stabilization without prior approval. If a case is expected to exceed that threshold, clinic staff are required to contact SCRAPS management to discuss options and potential use of funds from the HOPE Foundation to offset extraordinary costs.
The presenter asked the board at next week’s legislative meeting to award the contract to PEC so the county can continue providing emergency veterinary services to animals in its care. Commissioners discussed whether to give staff authority to exceed the $50,000 threshold and several said they would be comfortable raising the administrative spending cap to a higher limit—one commissioner suggested up to $75,000—so staff would only return to the board when projected spending approached that higher figure. The presenter offered to return to the board with a spending update if the contract approaches the approved threshold.
Why it matters: SCRAPS handles 24/7 animal-control responses in Spokane County and relies on outside clinics when it lacks on-staff veterinary capacity. Awarding the contract would formalize the county’s relationship with PEC and clarify how extraordinary medical bills are managed and funded.
What’s next: The presenter said the award will be on next week’s legislative agenda and that staff can report back if spending approaches the board-authorized cap.
