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Independence, MO —
Several fee changes are coming to Animal Control Services in Independence, most notably higher adoption fees for cats and dogs.
The new fees, approved by the City Council Monday night as part of the consent agenda, are effective July 1. The Independence Animal Shelter is planning to shift soon from its space at 875 S. Vista Ave. to the new facility on Missouri 78, just east of the MCC-Blue River campus – an October move-in date is now the goal, City Manager Robert Heacock said.
“The budget was adopted with the approach that we would have a fairly clean-slate ...” said Heacock, adding that while no funds are appropriated to contract with a nonprofit, it doesn’t prevent the city from partnering with a nonprofit or even creating a nonprofit at the shelter in the future.
“I think we’ll have a great opportunity to engage the community with the new facility,” Heacock said. “I think it’s important we also work toward the goal of operating a no-kill shelter. ... We’re working toward the future.”
Council members Monday night also approved the city’s 2012-13 budget, which includes funding to operate the new shelter with city staff, including a full-time veterinarian, a full-time volunteer coordinator, a full-time veterinary technician, a shelter manager separate from the field supervisor position and other shelter-related part-time positions.
An intergovernmental agreement approved in 2009 states the county was responsible for the facility’s construction, at its expense, while the city will operate and maintain it. The land also is owned by the city.
The city’s operating budget, also approved Monday, includes increases in revenues from Animal Control Services, as well as new services that’ll be provided to the public as part of the operation of the new animal shelter.
Some of the most notable changes include the following:
• Adoption: Cat and dog adoptions from the Independence Animal Shelter include spay/neuter, vaccinations and a microchip. The cost to adopt all dogs from the shelter will increase from $30 to $105.
The cost to adopt a cat will increase from $20 to $90.
However, for the rest of June, cat adoption fees are being reduced $20 and dog adoption fees are being reduced $30 at the shelter because the facility is still at capacity.
• Dog/cat impoundment: First impoundment: $105 (increase from previous fee of $80); each dog, $20 per day; each cat, $15 per day.
Each horse, mare, mule, colt, cow, bull, steer, jennie, calf, sheep, goat, hog or similar-sized animal will incur a fee equal to the expenses incurred by the city.
• Veterinarian services: The Animal Shelter will charge $15 each for vaccinations and $15 each for microchips. Spay/neuter services will cost $50 for dogs and $40 for cats.
• Acceptance: It will cost $37.50 for the acceptance of a live animal at the shelter. The fee for the shelter to accept a dead animal is $15, and animal control services to pick up a dead animal will cost $40.
Several fee changes are coming to Animal Control Services in Independence, most notably higher adoption fees for cats and dogs.
The new fees, approved by the City Council Monday night as part of the consent agenda, are effective July 1. The Independence Animal Shelter is planning to shift soon from its space at 875 S. Vista Ave. to the new facility on Missouri 78, just east of the MCC-Blue River campus – an October move-in date is now the goal, City Manager Robert Heacock said.
“The budget was adopted with the approach that we would have a fairly clean-slate ...” said Heacock, adding that while no funds are appropriated to contract with a nonprofit, it doesn’t prevent the city from partnering with a nonprofit or even creating a nonprofit at the shelter in the future.
“I think we’ll have a great opportunity to engage the community with the new facility,” Heacock said. “I think it’s important we also work toward the goal of operating a no-kill shelter. ... We’re working toward the future.”
Council members Monday night also approved the city’s 2012-13 budget, which includes funding to operate the new shelter with city staff, including a full-time veterinarian, a full-time volunteer coordinator, a full-time veterinary technician, a shelter manager separate from the field supervisor position and other shelter-related part-time positions.
An intergovernmental agreement approved in 2009 states the county was responsible for the facility’s construction, at its expense, while the city will operate and maintain it. The land also is owned by the city.
The city’s operating budget, also approved Monday, includes increases in revenues from Animal Control Services, as well as new services that’ll be provided to the public as part of the operation of the new animal shelter.
Some of the most notable changes include the following:
• Adoption: Cat and dog adoptions from the Independence Animal Shelter include spay/neuter, vaccinations and a microchip. The cost to adopt all dogs from the shelter will increase from $30 to $105.
The cost to adopt a cat will increase from $20 to $90.
However, for the rest of June, cat adoption fees are being reduced $20 and dog adoption fees are being reduced $30 at the shelter because the facility is still at capacity.
• Dog/cat impoundment: First impoundment: $105 (increase from previous fee of $80); each dog, $20 per day; each cat, $15 per day.
Each horse, mare, mule, colt, cow, bull, steer, jennie, calf, sheep, goat, hog or similar-sized animal will incur a fee equal to the expenses incurred by the city.
• Veterinarian services: The Animal Shelter will charge $15 each for vaccinations and $15 each for microchips. Spay/neuter services will cost $50 for dogs and $40 for cats.
• Acceptance: It will cost $37.50 for the acceptance of a live animal at the shelter. The fee for the shelter to accept a dead animal is $15, and animal control services to pick up a dead animal will cost $40.
