3 council members recommend county get out of animal shelter business

Last updated October 5, 2008 11:19 p.m. PT

3 council members recommend county get out of animal shelter business
By JON NAITO
P-I REPORTER

Three King County Council members recommended Sunday that the county stop the service of sheltering animals, citing a broken system beyond repair and a culture hostile toward reform.

Council Chairwoman Julia Patterson and Vice Chairmen Dow Constantine and Reagan Dunn called a news conference inside the King County Courthouse to promote a plan that would reduce the county's role in animal services by partnering with a private agency to handle shelter services.

"It would mean not being in the sheltering business any more," Constantine said.

The council members' position is based on a report filed by the King County Animal Services Interbranch Work Group, an interdepartmental task force of agencies that looked into the state of animal services in the county and proposed three options to overhaul the system.

The three council members Sunday backed the "Community-Based Services Model," a plan that would pair the county with a private agency.


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Supporters of private animal shelters to rally at noon
By MIKE BARBER
P-I REPORTER

A rally supporting a proposal that the county reduce its role in providing shelter and other services for animals is planned for noon Monday.

The rally, sponsored by a group calling itself KCACC Exposed, is expected to be held a day after three King County Council members, Julia Patterson, Dow Constantine and Reagan Dunn, announced a plan to get the county out of the sheltering business and, instead, partnering with non-profit, private organizations to provide services.

The rally is planned for noon in front of Seattle City Hall, where organizers claim they were forced to move after being discouraged by county officials from holding one near the King County Courthouse.
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When I read the title, I thought they just did not want to take care of stray animals anymore. Then I saw that they were just trying to switch to something different. Do you think it will be better or worse for the animals?

I don't know RustyK, I know that privatizing the government has positive measures, but I can't help to wonder how many animals will go the way side - the masses outweigh the needs.

Well, I hope they at least calculate the costs and see whether the private parties have enough resources to take care of the animals. I hope it is not a situation of, "Let them handle what they can handle, and if more animals are euthanized, so be it."

I just hope they do the best thing for the animals. I too thought the same thing when I read the title.