MATTAWA — Abandoned and stray animals in and around Mattawa, and how to address the problem they present, may be the subject of future discussions by the Mattawa City Council. Bonnie Helvey, co-founder of ARFS of Grant County, an animal rescue organization, requested a chance to talk to council members about cooperation between the city and rescue organizations at the Oct. 1 council meeting.

“We've been down here several times distributing food supplies into the community, and we will continue to do that. But we need some change,” Helvey said. “We have spent a tremendous amount of time, resources and money responding to abandoned, injured, sick, neglected, and stray animals from this community, and we believe the situation has reached a point now where the rescues and the city need to work together on a solution.” 

Helvey estimated ARFS assumed responsibility for 35 dogs in the Mattawa area in 2026. 

“Plus 40 puppies, repeated accidental litters, pregnant dogs, roaming animals (and) puppies with parvo – 10 in the last two months – to an extent of over $6,000 out of our coffers,” she said.

Helvey also asked for more communication and clarification of the city’s animal control rules. 

“What happens when Mattawa takes possession of an animal? We’d like to know,” she said.

She asked about the city’s policies governing stray dogs, how strays are housed, its euthanasia policies and the number of animals euthanized in the last year. 

“What are you, the city of Mattawa, willing to do about prevention, low-cost free spay and neuter, vaccination, microchip events, bilingual responsibility, pet ownership education, enforcement of licensing requirements, clear abandonment and cruelty information, a formal rescue notification protocol before adoptable animals are euthanized?” Helvey asked.

Education, she said, is part of responsible pet ownership, and she urged city officials to work with rescue organizations to work on it.

“We recognize that Mattawa is a diverse community, and that people may come from different backgrounds with different experiences regarding companion animals,” Helvey said. “Rather than criticize those differences, we want to educate. We have been down this road before, though. If residents don't know that abandoning an animal can be a crime, let's tell them. If cost prevents spaying and neutering, let's work together to figure something out. If information isn't reaching Spanish-speaking families, let's provide it in Spanish. Education combined with resources and reasonable enforcement can change behavior. Education must be accompanied by enforcement. Education cannot be the entire answer.”

Helvey said ARFS officials know reaching a resolution will take time.

“We aren’t asking Mattawa to solve this overnight, and we aren’t coming here saying the rescue has all the answers,” she said. “What we’re saying is, what is happening right now can’t continue.”

Helvey asked to come back and talk to council members in November, but Katherine Kenison, the city’s attorney, suggested that city employees review Helvey’s questions first. 

“This is always a difficult issue in all the cities I work with, because everybody loves animals,” Kenison said. “Everybody feels for the animals that are not well taken care of, but especially for the smaller cities, you're in a really tough situation because you have very limited resources. Outside of the animal control with dangerous dogs and nuisance complaints, the city really doesn't have the resources to make this a priority above the core city services.”

That being the case, the city will need some help, she said. 

“It really does require that these other entities take the lead in doing the education and offering opportunities,” Kenison said.