Council weighs future of County animal shelters after hearing a second disturbing report

Public can testify at April 14 Town Hall meeting, with Council action shortly after

After hearing a disturbing consultant’s report (large file, pdf, 14 MB) today on the ongoing conditions at King County’s two animal shelters, members of the King County Council say their decision on whether to take the County out of the provision of shelter services could come as soon as next month. Their recommendation will be shaped by testimony from the public at a Town Hall meeting in Burien on the evening of April 14.

“King County Animal Care and Control has failed the animals and the people of King County,” said Council chair Julia Patterson. “The Council has only two choices – continue to micromanage the Executive department until change occurs, or find another entity that can fulfill our county’s expectation for humane animal care.”

“It is intolerable that King County would fail to properly care for vulnerable animals in our custody,” said Council vice chair Dow Constantine. "Each of these creatures has a right to food and water, shelter, medical care, and the chance to find a loving home.”

“We must take decisive action, and to succeed we will need the advice and support of the people of King County,” added Constantine. “Concerned citizens can learn more about the issue and testify at our Town Hall meeting on Monday, April 14 at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien.”

Members of the Council’s Committee of the Whole heard a presentation from consultant Nathan Winograd, director of the national No Kill Advocacy Center of San Clemente, California. Winograd reported on his observations of the conditions and operations at the County’s animal shelters in Kent and Bellevue/Crossroads from January to March. See video of the presentation from consultant Nathan Winograd  (requires free Windows Media Player).

Among his findings:

• Some of the sickest animals didn’t receive food or water for up to four days.
• High rates of disease among animals were caused in part by a lack of vaccinations, inadequate medical care, and repeated instances of animal waste in cages.
• Many cages in the adoption viewing area were empty, despite the availability of adoptable animals.
• Mismanagement of animal cruelty investigations have resulted in a 0.5 percent conviction rate for these offenses.
• Repeated attempts by partners and private businesses to offer financial and volunteer aid have been rejected or gone unanswered.

"It is unacceptable for this county, which models itself on innovative and cutting edge performance, to have an agency in such deplorable condition," said Councilmember Jane Hague.

“It’s critical for the council to act with urgency on the issues raised in this report about conditions in King County’s animal shelters,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “These are matters of life and death to the vulnerable animals dependent on our care. They are voiceless, so we must speak loudly on their behalf.”

“The lack of improvements to our animal control system, in spite of months of warnings and promises, is a clear indicator that King County staff’s oversight of facilities, operations and customer service is entirely inadequate,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert. “This scathing report should serve as a catalyst for reorganization of the service delivery system, and perhaps even a charter amendment providing the Council a role in holding department heads accountable, so that we can prevent this kind of failure from occurring again in the future.”

“The inadequacy of care at animal shelters is an embarrassment,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson. “Today’s scathing report shows the County still has not reformed its efforts to provide humane care to animals under its control.”

The Council retained Winograd to evaluate the leadership of Animal Services and its structural capacity to become a model no-kill program. Winograd will deliver his final written report to the Council within a week.

Constantine invited the public to speak at a Council Town Hall meeting on animal care and shelter services that he is hosting in his district on Monday, April 14 at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien at 6:30 p.m. The Council will hear from the public, review the consultant’s final report, receive the Executive’s response, and revisit last September’s report from the King County Animal Care and Control Citizens Advisory Committee. Patterson and Constantine say they expect to make a recommendation to the Council on whether the County should continue to provide animal shelter services.

Five volunteers serving on the Citizens Advisory Committee sent the Council a letter earlier this month suspending their work, based on a lack of cooperation from Animal Services staff and other issues. After hearing testimony from one volunteer, Councilmembers today accepted a recommendation to suspend the committee’s work pending removal of “roadblocks to its effectiveness.” The citizens committee report in September described conditions at the shelters as “deplorable.”

In May 2007, the Council adopted comprehensive reforms for animal care and prevention of cruelty. The legislation sponsored by Councilmember Patterson called for transformation of King County Animal Care and Control into a model animal services program, with low euthanasia rates, high live-release rates and safe, sanitary, healthy and humane conditions. The 2008 King County Budget adopted by the Council includes funding for the most critical upgrades to the County’s animal shelter facilities and improvements to the provision of medical care, nutrition and socialization, while the Council considers the business decision of whether to continue or discontinue the provision of animal sheltering services.