SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
The county will provide the Brooks Animal Protection Society (BAPS)with a one-time $7,000 grant to help them financially until the end of the year.
While there was a request at joint services for $13,000 to get BAPS to the end of the year, the city has provided them with the $5,000 in emergency funding that was set aside for when it is required.
“We’ve heard from administration that they do not want to get into the dog and cat business and that we would be forced to do if we don’t support BAPS now financially,” said councillor Kelly Christman.
“That gives them approximately three months to get back on stream and look at some of their processes.”
She also suggested that someone is sent to the BAPS board for support.
Councillor Holly Johnson said she supports the funding but has heard that the adoption process is too onerous for people.
“They think it should be more relaxed. I don’t know enough about BAPS to speak to all the conditions and the costs but maybe if someone is interested going on that board that could be reviewed as an option,” she said.
The no-kill shelter began to reach out to the area in August.
“At BAPS we have been faced with an incredibly tough year financially due to the cost of food, vet care price increase, increase costs of utilities and a surge in animal surrenders and abandonment situations,” states an undated letter from the society to the county.
Last Thursday BAPS chairperson Sue Hawkins told county councillors the shelter had 103 cats and 15 dogs.
She said the cat population has been exploding because cats are in heat most of the year and many of their feline females are pregnant.
She said there is an intact male cat in the Uplands Area whose owner allows him to roam.
“There lies the problem. It’s people who don’t get their animals altered,” she said.
“The cost of food, cost of meds for the animals to vet, everything has just gotten crazy high. So, we’re just asking for a little extra assistance,” she said.
The current agreement states that the society will hold a dog for seven days during which time the city will pay $25 per day. After that BAPS covers expenses.
BAPS has funding agreements with the city and county and it has been suggested by county CAO Matt Fenske that the agreement should be updated.
“They’re charging 25-bucks a night for seven nights. Maybe they need to look at those numbers if they’re hanging on to these animals for months.
“Maybe there’s some give within each of the municipal agreements to bump that contribution up,” he said.
The society is operated by a board of volunteers with nine employees including part time caregivers and an office manager.
“There is a lot to do in that office with adoptions, intakes, phone calls, overseeing the staff,” Hawkins explained.
