Flathead City-County Board of Health voted Thursday to eliminate pet euthanasia from services offered to the public for a fee.

Under the new procedure, an owner may surrender a dog or cat to the shelter for the $20 fee. Officials at the shelter will follow standing policy that allows euthanasia only if a pet is too injured, too ill or too much of a liability to put up for adoption.

Shelter Director Cliff Bennett asked for a vote on euthanasia for a fee at the regular meeting of the health board.

"I've never been comfortable with it," he said.

Bennett described a recent incident where mistakes were made. He said a friend of the owner brought a dog to the shelter to be euthanized, a service that was offered for $40.

"The dog was not critically ill and a volunteer offered to take it home," Bennett said.

Inadvertently, the dog's picture was put up on the shelter's website page of adoptable pets. The owner saw the picture and became quite angry that the dog had not been euthanized.

"This brought it to a head," he said.

IN A MEMO to the board, Bennett said the policy of offering euthanasia was started before he became shelter director. He said the staff "feels that this is an action best left to the DVMs (doctors of veterinary medicine) of Flathead Country."

Bennett said he has received criticism from some veterinarians that the county is running "a government-subsidized vet clinic." In response to board member questions, he said the $40 fee was lower than some local clinic fees.

In the past, he received complaints about the county providing low-cost vaccinations. These services were initiated with the idea that low-income residents who couldn't afford a private veterinarian could vaccinate their pets for the good of public health or could end their pets' suffering.

Board member Dr. Wayne Miller asked if the change might trigger an increase in abandoned sick or disabled animals. Bennett said owners still have the option of surrendering their animals for $20.

Dr. David Myerowitz advocated a procedure where shelter officials accept dogs and cats but not provide euthanasia on demand.

"We'll take the animal and decide the best course of action," he said.

Board members voted to eliminate the euthanasia fee/service and follow existing policies on euthanasia with regard to surrendered pets.

BENNETT followed this discussion with his monthly report on shelter activities. He said the dog and cat populations hit a two-year low at the end of December.

He said a record 35 dogs were sent to rescue organizations in December. Totals on the last day of the month were 50 cats and 60 dogs compared to highs in 2011 of 108 dogs and 181 cats.

He said the staff is using its extra time to catch up on policy issues as well as making the shelter neater and cleaner. Bennett said the newly refinished floors have helped make the shelter look brighter and cleaner.

"That has energized the staff," he said. "Things are really good right now."

He encouraged board members to stop by and take a look. Board Chairman Glen Aasheim said he had taken a tour.

"I thought those floors were spotless," Aasheim said.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.