Funding decision expected next week

GRANT COUNTY — Grant County Commissioners hope to have a final decision on funding Grant County Animal Outreach by early July.

Outreach member Harmony White met with commissioners LeRoy Allison and Cindy Carter Monday to answer questions about a proposed contract and funding request to help outreach operate the Grant County/Moses Lake animal shelter.

At a previous meeting the commissioners were concerned with how many county animals versus city animals are brought into the shelter. A certain number has not been provided yet.

Each entity asked provides a different number, Allison said.

The commissioners want the information to determine how much funding they provide to outreach.

Previously the county provided $38,200 annually to the Moses Lake-Grant County Humane Society, who operated the shelter until this year. Since outreach took over the program, they are requesting $45,000 annually, to be paid in equal monthly payments.

The commissioners may not be prepared for the nearly $7,000 funding increase.

"It would be tough for us to extend our budget," Allison said. "We know we need the services."

White offered to prepare annual and monthly informational reports of shelter operations to the commissioners.

White said they plan to create a spay and neuter education program to decrease the number of impounded animals and increase the number of adoptions from the shelter.

She said it will compliment the low-cost spay and neuter program the humane society is considering implementing.

Allison questioned why animals from Othello and Odessa are included at the shelter.

White said Adams County now has a pet rescue program and eventually outreach will request funding from individual municipalities once an official count of impounded animals is obtained. Outreach will determine what city each animal is coming from by tracking the address of the person who brings the animal to the shelter.

Commissioners questioned what additional funding is being collected.

White said Starbucks is contributing $1,200 per month to have their employees come to the shelter to volunteer. She said outreach collects donations and eventually will be taking in adoption fees.

The humane society's contract ends July 9. Outreach is to begin operations once the humane society's contract is over.