City Council Approves New Animal Control Contract With SCRAPS - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane City Council voted to approve a 20-year contract with SCRAPS for animal control services. The vote was unanimous and the contract will begin on January 1, 2014.

SPOKANE, Wash. -The Spokane City Council is expected to vote on a new 20-year contract for animal control services. The proposed contract is with SCRAPS and would begin on January 1, 2014.

SCRAPS was chosen through a competitive bidding process, and will replace Spokanimal who has been providing animal control for the city for the last 28 years.

Spokanimal's Executive Director Gail Mackie says if they lose the contract they will have to cut 60% of its budget and 22 employees. Positions ranging from animal control officers, dispatchers, and kennel workers. SCRAPS says if the contract is approved their workload is expected to double and will hire additional employees. They will be looking to hire experienced workers, so many of Spokanimal's employees could be hired by SCRAPS.

Spokanimal says they will evaluate and look to continue many of their programs which are privately funded, but will begin to only accept owned dogs for adoption. They also are planning to ramp up services at their veterinarian clinic.

Under the proposed contract, SCRAPS will receive an annual fixed fee for animal control services from the city, and adjusted annually for inflation. The fee for 2014 is $561,500.