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SCRAPS sees need for increase in fees

By Peter Barnes peterb@spokesman.com

Pet licensing fees are likely to rise and, once again, members of the Spokane Valley City Council expressed dismay as Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service presented details of its yearly budget at Tuesday’s meeting.

After revenues from fines and license fees are subtracted, the agency is expected to need about $827,000 to provide animal-related services to the unincorporated county and cities it has contracts with.

For at least one councilman, the increasing costs in recent years and the drain on Spokane Valley’s budget are unacceptable.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that we can’t afford you any more,” Councilman Rich Munson said, adding that he would vote against the city budget if it included any funding increase for SCRAPS.

During her presentation to the council, SCRAPS Director Nancy Hill said the agency has campaigned to get more pets licensed and is trying to increase revenues as fuel costs and other expenses rise.

“The time has come where we will have to raise our fees,” she said.

That could include raising the fee to license a pet by $2, charging owners more money per day to house impounded animals and possibly requiring veterinarians to submit owner information from rabies vaccinations so the agency can go after people who don’t license their animals.

“Owners need to be responsible for those costs,” Councilman Steve Taylor said.

The council reached an informal consensus to instruct Hill to tell county commissioners they would not object to the fee increases.

In the past, the council has talked about contracting with another animal agency that would charge less. SpokAnimal CARE provides the same services for the city of Spokane at about half the cost, but it has indicated it will get out of the animal-control business soon. That would leave SCRAPS as the only organization doing animal control in the county.

If they are willing spend the money, cities can set up their own animal control agency. Liberty Lake, for example, is considering hiring a part-time dogcatcher next year.