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County approves Homeward Bound Pets clerical contract as sheriff outlines kennels RFP and licensing options
Summary
Yamhill County approved a $7,507-per-month contract amendment with Homeward Bound Pets to handle clerical licensing tasks. Commissioners pressed for clarity on whether shelters could license animals brought in from outside jurisdictions, discussed building an internal licensing FTE, and heard from the sheriff that a kennels RFP has been published for long-term dog-control solutions.
The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to a contract with Homeward Bound Pets Humane Society for clerical services, authorizing up to $7,507 per month (retroactive to July 1, 2026) to process licensing, redemptions and reminders.
During discussion, commissioners asked whether the contract could require shelters to license animals arriving from out of county and how the county could track animals brought in by rescues. A county representative noted current practice places the licensing requirement on the new owner but said the county can enter adopted animals' names and addresses into the licensing database so renewal reminders will be mailed.
"My understanding is currently, when somebody comes in and adopts, the requirement to license falls to the owner," a county representative said. The board discussed whether changes to county code or additional requirements for shelters would be appropriate and whether that would impose burdens on shelter operations.
Sheriff (speaker 8) updated the commissioners that the request for proposals (RFP) for kennel services was published the day before. "The RFP or the request for proposals went out yesterday," the sheriff said, and noted the county's legal obligations for postings, reunification and statutory procedures. The sheriff also said staff had been evaluating county-owned properties as possible longer-term kennel locations and emphasized that multiple providers could cooperate to meet needs subject to contractual commitments.
Commissioners debated whether to build an in-house FTE to manage licensing work and whether to keep Homeward Bound doing the clerical work while the county stands up additional capacity. The board approved the contract amendment after the exchange and a brief discussion of administrative duration and potential steps to bring licensing functions in house over time.
