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Del City weighs alternatives to Oklahoma City animal shelter as fees climb
Summary
City staff described steep increases in per-animal shelter costs charged by Oklahoma City and reported outreach to Moore and other nearby jurisdictions; council asked staff to audit invoices and return with cost comparisons and logistics but took no immediate action.
Del City officials discussed rising costs for animal-shelter services and whether to seek alternate contracts.
The city manager explained that charges from the current shelter partner had risen sharply in recent years and said the city has seen its animal contract costs climb from tens of thousands annually toward much higher levels; staff reported that Oklahoma City raised per-animal fees in recent years and is building a new, larger facility that is contributing to higher costs. The manager said staff have contacted other nearby municipalities, including Moore, Shawnee and Spencer, to explore alternatives and noted transport fees would be an added consideration.
Council members expressed concern about the volume of stray animals and the downstream cost impact. One council member argued that the broader regional trend to “no-kill” operations can increase the load on neighboring municipalities; another suggested the city explore spay-and-neuter sponsorships and better online posting for lost animals if the city sent animals to shelters farther away.
Staff said the current contract terms have been adjusted so that citizen drop-offs are not automatically charged back to the city, and staff pledged to audit invoices to remove miscoded entries. The council did not change the current contract at the meeting; the manager was authorized to continue outreach and return with comparisons of fees, transport costs and operational impacts for council consideration.
What happens next: Staff will pursue cost comparisons with Moore, Spencer and other nearby providers and report back with audited invoices, transport-cost estimates and any recommended contract changes.
