Council hears Whitman County Humane Society contract proposal amid concerns over surrender fees

The Whitman County Humane Society presented a proposed contract for animal services to the Colfax City Council on Feb. 17, outlining a usage-based fee structure intended to defray intake costs.

Amy Griffiths, representing the Humane Society, said the agency's intake policy includes a three-day hold for animals without chips or tags and a six-day hold for chipped animals or when an owner is known. The proposed fees are $150 for cats and $250 for dogs. Griffiths said the society has adjusted its cat intake policy and now generally accepts cats only "if the animal is injured or too small to survive on its own." She reported the society took in 12 animals from Colfax in 2025 and nine in 2024, and noted a recent local incident in which one resident abandoned seven puppies.

Council and staff expressed concern about how the contract would affect Colfax if citizens bring multiple animals for surrender. Public works/administration staff member Hammer pointed out the city currently lacks cat enforcement — it does not license or use the pound for cats — and asked how costs would be managed when multiple animals arrive at once. Clerk Lynda Kramlich noted staff typically posts stray dogs on Facebook and owners are quickly located. Griffiths said in abandonment cases the owner could face charges and the society would require a $50 surrender fee per animal, though she said they sometimes work with indigent owners to offset costs through volunteer work.

No final action on the contract was recorded at the meeting; council discussion identified areas for clarification before any formal adoption.