OTHELLO — The Othello City Council voted unanimously during Monday evening’s regular meeting to enter into a one-year contract for dog sheltering services with Hands 'N Paws Animal Assistance. The council also approved the purchase of three large kennels for the city’s temporary animal control building. 

Othello Mayor Shawn Logan introduced the contract and purchase requests.

“The services that (Hands 'N Paws) would provide in essence are the same services that we were in the contract with Adams County Pet Rescue for because we offered them the same contract,” Logan said. “The only difference is they decided to accept it.”

The city is still responsible for certain animal control services under the new contract.

“We will do the dog pickup. We'll do the dog licensing. We're setting up this temporary location, and we're going to establish a permanent facility,” Logan said. “There are different amenities that are in this. They're going to help us design and put together a very nice facility … We're going to pay them a flat fee of $75,000 a year. We're not responsible for the cost of providing veterinary services. They'll provide us with an insurance policy for the organization. Those are basically the highlights of this agreement.”

Hands 'N Paws Founder Carmon Derting introduced herself to the council during the meeting.

“Prior to founding Hands 'N Paws, I actually ran an animal shelter,” Derting said. “I was a founding board member and then executive director for an animal shelter for 12 years. So, I'm very versed in what it takes to run an animal shelter and how to fundraise money for that animal shelter, and very educated on the standards of animal care. Many of my board members have been well-versed in how to run an animal shelter.”

Derting spoke about some of Hands 'N Paws' plans in Othello.

“We plan on bringing on staff, one of whom is also a professional dog handler,” she said. “He is willing to provide services for the community for dog training and such. So, please be assured that the animals will be cared for.”

According to the agenda memo on the contract, the city intends to euthanize “dangerous and marauding dogs” that pose a threat to citizens and other animals, but other dogs picked up will be held before being released to Hands 'N Paws, who will be able to adopt out dogs. 

“After a 72-hour holding period, those dogs, their final disposition is at the sole discretion of Hands 'N Paws … The only dogs that they're going to accept are the dogs that are delivered by our animal control,” Logan said. “If you found a dog and picked it up, unless the animal control officer takes that, Hands 'N Paws is not going to accept it. That's written into the contract.”

Logan said the cost of the three large kennels for the city’s temporary dog holding facility — which the council approved $12,000 in upgrades for — is about $9,000.

“In order to contract with Hands 'N Paws, the city does need to provide a facility,” he said.

Logan said city staff recommends a parcel of undeveloped land the city owns on West Park Street as the future site of a permanent facility.

“It's three acres that is in an industrial zone, and that's where most animal control facilities are located inside other cities,” he said. “The city estimates it will need approximately $400,000 to develop that permanent facility, kennel runs for 32 dogs being our capacity of care … Any expansion of the property would be the responsibility of Hands 'N Paws. They would raise their own funds to finance their operation above $75,000.”

Logan also discussed the potential of renting another building and spending about $205,000 to hold dogs there until the permanent facility can be built. The proposed site for that is a potato shed on East Cemetery Street. 

“It doesn't make any sense to me to spend that much money, to spend $205,000 plus rent and then go and build our own facility. That makes no sense to me. We can be in $400,000 — which I think is out of line, I think that's too high — or $600,000.”

The council approved the purchase of the kennels and the contract with Hands 'N Paws but has not yet approved the request to spend $400,000 on building a new facility. 

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. A resident of Othello, Davis covers south Grant County communities and Adams County.

    Othello Mayor Shawn Logan said that the city would need to provide a permanent facility to contract with Hands 'N Paws Animal Assistance. The city’s recommendation for the facility would be to build it on a city-owned parcel of land on West Park Street, pictured.
  

    A potato shed on East Cemetery Road in Othello that Mayor Shawn Logan discussed as a potential base for a semi-temporary facility for sheltering dogs until a more permanent facility can be built.