“The euthanasia rate is low, but anything I can do to lower it more would make me happy,” Marcia Doncaster, shelter director, told the county commissioners in proposing the change.
It will allow the director to waive or reduce the current $40 adoption fee to approved 501(c)(3) rescue groups for dogs in imminent risk of euthanasia.
The majority of adoption fees will be waived with the rescue group asked to pay for the cost of vaccines and a license, unless the group has a kennel license, Doncaster said.
The commissioners approved the request as part of shelter fee revisions July 22. The changes are effective Friday, Aug. 1.
“I believe this will not only decrease the number of dogs being euthanized but also create a better working relationship with rescue groups,” Doncaster said.
She said the shelter’s main source of dog adopters is individuals. Rescue groups, however, can be called on as last resort when dogs are in danger of euthanasia.
The rescue groups are integral in adopting dogs with special needs, she said, noting the groups have time to hold a dog in order to find “that special person” to adopt it.
In making the proposal, Doncaster checked with area counties on their adoption fees for rescue groups. The policies ranged from no fees to rescue groups to $15 to cover shots and $60 to spay/$40 to neuter, if necessary, to a sliding adoption fee from zero to current adoption fee at the dog warden’s discretion.
Other changes approved by the commission include increasing euthanasia fees and eliminating the acceptance by the shelter of deceased dogs and cats and out of county dogs and cats.
Doncaster said a check with area counties found at least two do not take out of county dogs or cats from owners for euthanasia. One of those counties referred its residents to the Miami County shelter for that service, she said.
She asked the commission to consider that accepting out of county dogs and cats increases the chance of bringing disease into the shelter and takes up kennel space. For the deceased animals, Doncaster said there are other options to the owner such as taking them to a veterinarian.
“Even though, thankfully, our dog euthanasia rate is low, our cat euthanasia rate is high. It is a very stressful part of the job and to undertake other counties’ responsibilities by accepting their dogs/cats creates additional stress on our employees,” Doncaster wrote in the proposal.
The new euthanasia fees to Miami County residents will be $30 for cats (old rate: $15) and increasing fees for dogs by weight with under 30 pounds $45 (previously $30-$50) and 61 to 100 pounds, $100 (old rate: $75).
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