Breaking! CDA Animal Shelter to Close Immediately

The animal shelter population of Post Falls is about to increase. Dogs from the Coeur d’Alene Animal Shelter are to be temporarily housed in the neighboring city after Coeur d’Alene city officials unexpectedly ended their animal control contract Friday with the Watson Agency. For the next few months, Post Falls will handle Coeur d’Alene’s animal control needs, including the capture of animals at large or dangerous dogs. Officials did not say Friday when the Coeur d’Alene shelter would be closing, or what would happen to the cats at the shelter. Post Falls will be reimbursed for the services according to a contract that has yet to be drawn up, said Post Falls Police Leuitenant Scot Haug. The Post Falls shelter has 42 indoor and 7 outdoor kennels, which should be enough to handle both city’s dogs, he said. Haug said it appears the city is trying to find a solution to the shelter problem in Coeur d’Alene within six months. The Coeur d’Alene Animal Shelter was hit with heavy criticism by state Department of Agriculture officials in January when the state found 10 various violations at the shelter, including poor ventilation and drainage that left sewage on the floor and its smell lingering in the air — Chris Rodkey , Spokesman-Review.