Kelso Council Rejects Humane Society Contract, Seeks Alternatives

0:00It's March 24. You're listening to Vancouver News today, AI-powered local news. Kelsal City Council voted 4-2 this week against the contract with the Humane Society for Southwest Washington to handle the city's stray animals through the end of the year. This makes Kelsal the third local government to back out, following Kelsal's county's decision in February and Kalama earlier. The city's and county had teamed up for group negotiations on animal sheltering services, but their public requests for proposals drew just one bitter. The Vancouver-based non-profit, previously different rates caused issues so they negotiated together, but pull out started due to budget worries. Council members raised strong concerns about the group's trap, neuter, and release program for stray cats, saying it might not curb problems like, spraying on homes. One counselor called the non-profits pushback on the county's exit bullying, while others worried about liability if valuable pets got caught up in the process. After the no vote, Kelsal City manager plans to team up with the county to find another

1:03solution for sheltering strays. Longview is next to vote on its deal, worth over $218,000, though costs could shift now. Shreddawds and unincorporated county areas are already housed in kennels near the jail, and cities are scrambling for options as month to month.