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Thank you for writing me and for your concern for the animals in King County’s care. Because of the large volume of calls and emails I’ve received, I’m sending this e-newsletter on animal care and control to try and respond to you in a timely manner. You may also be receiving this e-newsletter if you have written to me in the past about this topic.

I won't be able to answer every specific point, but I hope to cover many of the concerns you expressed and questions you have asked. I have broken the e-newsletter down by frequently asked questions and their answers, to better help you navigate this lengthy email.

Thank you for your interest in and concern for the animals in our shelters.

Sincerely,

Julia Patterson
King County Councilmember - District 5

Frequently asked questions about King County Animal Care and Control

What is the status of Animal Care and Control after the press conference on Sunday and briefing on Monday?

On Sunday, Councilmembers Constantine and Dunn joined me to hold a press conference announcing our decision to close the Kent and Crossroads shelters. The Inter-branch Work Group the Council and Executive appointed in April, which included members from the Executive, Council, Public Health, the Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecutor’s office, had just completed their strategic and operational plan for the shelter. Although the work group presented 3 options for moving forward, it was clear to us that the first and second option would fail to bring about the change needed for King County to be a model program.

On Monday, the Council was briefed by the Inter-branch Work Group on the 3 operational options in their report. These options include:

  • The first is the STATUS QUO MODEL– where King County continues to provide field services and operate the animal shelters. This option would also likely require us to invest millions of dollars to build a new shelter.
  • The second option is the COUNTY REORGANIZATION MODEL – where King County continues to provide field services and operate the animal shelters but some functions would be transferred to the Sheriff’s Office and Public Health.
  • The third option is the COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES MODEL – which looks beyond county government and explores what community partnerships we can make to deliver humane care.

The Council has asked that our staff explore how to implement the third option, based on a community partnership model. This model includes the following elements:

  • King County will work with a community partner who can create a model program for the humane care of animals, one that all people in the county can be proud of.
  • King County will retain many of the county’s current responsibilities and divide them among the branches of county government with expertise in those areas:
    • For example, the King County Sheriff’s Office could investigate animal cruelty cases and animal attacks. The Sheriff has the skills and the appropriate level of authority to safely conduct cruelty investigations.
    • Public Health – Seattle & King County could take over inspection and licensing of pet shops and kennels in the unincorporated areas and contract cities, a service it already provides inside the city of Seattle. Public Health has the institutional expertise and authority to address sanitation and zoonotic disease control. Public Health would retain responsibility for control of communicable disease and oversight of rabies quarantine.
    • The Records and Licensing Services Division could take over pet licensing, a duty for which it is well-suited.

What is the rationale for the decisions about Animal Care and Control?

For the last nearly two years, the King County Council has passed legislation with the intent of King County becoming a model animal care provider. Our goals for the shelter, and our values for the care we expect for the animals in King County’s care, are:

  • We want to reduce euthanasia rates as low as possible—ensuring that no animal, unless they’re too ill or too vicious—is ever put down.
  • We want to increase the number of adoptions, so that every animal in our shelter has the opportunity to be placed in a loving home.
  • We want to reduce the number of homeless pets by providing low-cost, spay and neuter services to every animal not meant to be bred.
  • We want to ensure that every animal in our care has proper medical care, adequate food and water, and space to exercise and play.

For the past two years, we on the Council have worked very hard to set policies to achieve these goals. However, four independent outside entities have reported that King County Animal Services still falls short:

  • Our Citizens Advisory Committee was unanimous on what it called the “deplorable state of King County shelters.”
  • A consultant hired by the Council said: “The same problems that plagued the shelter ten years ago plague the shelter today.”
  • A consultant hired by the Executive said: “It was evident that the capacity of both staff and facility was exceeded in almost every area of animal housing and care.”
  • And veterinarians who volunteered at the shelter last summer but quit, said they “did not want to act as enablers to the proven failed procedures.”


The situation is unacceptable to me and to my colleagues. King County has an absolute obligation to provide these animals with humane care, medical treatment, and food and shelter. These vulnerable creatures must be cared for as we would care for our own pets—and given the best chance to be reunited with their families or placed in a loving home. We have not wavered from these standards in our deliberations.

We have completed our review process and made what we think is the right decision. And we pledge to keep the best interests of these shelter animals foremost in our minds as we negotiate this challenging transition.

When will the public be able to weigh into the Council’s process for getting out of the shelter business?

The King County Council will have to draft legislation to implement the appropriate changes to King County Code and the county’s organizational structure. When those ordinances are ready, we will hold public hearings and citizens will have a chance to comment on these ordinances.

In addition to the public King County will include your city leaders in the process. We currently provide animal services to 34 cities and, during the transition, we will work to include those cities in a negotiated agreement with the community partner, if that city wants to take part.

What is the transition timeline?

It will take at least six to nine months to make the kind of transition we propose. As staff develop a transition plan for Council members to consider, we will have a better idea about how long each element of the transition will take, including the transfer of functions to Public Health, Records and Licensing, Sheriff’s department, and a community partner shelter.

How will we work with shelter employees during the transition?

There are many important factors to consider during the transition, including the effect that moving to a community-based system will have on our valued county employees.

We are fortunate to have many fine employees working in our shelters now. This is in no way a reflection on their dedication and hard-work. What we seek here are reforms in leadership and management that will lead us to a model animal welfare program.

Our employees and their representatives will certainly be part of our discussions as we develop a transition plan for a new organizational model.

Just as we want to create a model program for the animals, we must have a good solution for the hard-working staff who have been caring for those animals.

Where will the Kent shelter animals go?

Contrary to what you may be hearing, the shelter animals will NOT be turned out on the streets. Because the Council’s top priority is ensuring the best care possible for these animals, we will structure the transition from county-run to community partner-run sheltering in a way that has the least amount of disruption for the animals. Additionally, the partnership we design must contain the following elements:

  • The partner or partners must have the capacity to accommodate all of the animals in our Kent and Crossroads shelters.
  • The partner(s) must be a proven model program, with a track record of excellent care for animals, high adoption rates, and aggressive spay/neuter programs.
  • The partner must have strong relationships with volunteers, rescue organizations, and the public to ensure that its operations are sustainable and rooted in community support.


What will a community partnership cost?

King County currently appropriates about $5.5 million to Animal Care and Control.

According to the inter-branch work group report, the status quo model that includes all the elements to make our shelter a model program might cost about $8.3 million. A community partnership is projected to require about the same funding as King County is currently allocating for Animal Care and Control.

However, until we have a negotiated agreement with a community partner it’s too soon to put a dollar figure on the model.

What we do know is this:

  • The report indicates that a community partnership might be the least costly of the three options before us.
  • Cost is not the reason why we are proposing this new model.
  • We are choosing this organizational model because the model we have just isn’t working.

Would this include Animal Control (dog catcher, enforcement) functions?

The King County Council has not made a final decision about this function. First, it was not thoroughly studied during the inter-branch work group process. Second, we do not know if there are outside entities that would be willing or able to provide these services.

As the Council considers a transition plan, we will also make decisions about whether or not we will continue to provide these services.
 

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