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Washtenaw County staff warn animal control is a service the county values but a growing budget problem
Summary
Deputy administrator Andrew DeLu told commissioners the county’s contract with the Humane Society of Huron Valley meets many public expectations but has outpaced revenue; the county faces a several‑hundred‑thousand dollar annual gap and is exploring cost‑sharing, ordinance options and possible alternatives to the current contract ahead of a 2027 renewal.
Deputy County Administrator Andrew DeLu told the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners on May 6 that the county’s animal control system is functioning but under financial strain, and that decision makers must resolve a growing funding gap ahead of a contract renewal in 2027.
DeLu’s presentation laid out the distinction between the county’s narrow statutory mandate — limited largely to seized animals in cruelty cases and minimum hold periods — and the broader set of services the county currently pays for through its contract with the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV), including stray intake, medical care and adoption services. DeLu said HSHV has handled roughly 28,000 intakes from mid‑2017 through 2025 and that more than half of intakes originate with the public.
Why this matters: the county moved several years ago from a fixed‑price contract to a full…
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