Clark County’s animal control costs are going up now that the county council has approved a new three-year contract with the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. The council unanimously approved the new contract Tuesday.
Because Clark County does not have a municipal animal shelter, the Humane Society for Southwest Washington contracts its services to Clark County, Vancouver, Washougal, Camas, Ridgefield, Battle Ground and La Center.
Representatives from the Humane Society presented the new rates to the council in September. At that meeting, the local organization’s president, Andrea Bruno, said the county’s existing contract couldn’t cover the Humane Society’s rising costs for providing animal care. She also said the Humane Society had been subsidizing the county’s expenses for several years through donor contributions.
The previous contract with the Humane Society was a flat, per animal fee of $300 for 2024, April Furth, director of Community Development, told the council Tuesday. Furth said there was also a $175 fee per feral or community cat.
The new contract has a flat annual amount, which is billed monthly, with additional costs for additional services. In 2025, the county will pay $896,367, which is approximately $465 per animal. In 2026 and 2027, the rates increase to $1.02 million and $1.22 million, respectively.
According to a staff report, the county has been paying for animals found in unincorporated Clark County that are brought in by members of the public and animal control officers. In 2024, the county paid for 1,928 animals, although only 394 animals were brought in by animal control.
The report said staff will be exploring other options for reducing the county’s animal control costs. Councilor Michelle Belkot suggested the county might be better off, at least financially, if it pursued running its own animal shelter.
“Cowlitz (County) is paying less because they’ve come up with an alternative shelter of their own,” Belkot said. “In my personal opinion, what we’re paying is ridiculous. There are other counties and commissioners that are coming up with creating their own shelters. Cowlitz County created a shelter using some jail space.”
Councilor Glen Yung said while the new rates are expensive, costs for veterinary care are going up for everyone, and something he experienced firsthand recently when his dog became ill.
“Animals are important to us. That’s why this has become such a large issue,” he said. “The Humane Society provides a benefit to this community. It’s our due diligence to ensure we’re receiving the services, that we’re doing the things that are required of us and that we’re doing it at the best price possible.”
