In the face of rising animal encounters and increasingly strained resources, Animal Shelter & Care of Jefferson County (AS&C) approached the Jefferson County Commissioners Mar. 12 to petition for an increase in the county’s annual contribution to the group’s animal care services they provide the county.
The Commissioners presently earmark $3,000 a year for AS&C, but the group has requested the commitment be raised to $10,000. AS&C also hopes to establish a more formal relationship with city government, as present giving is revisited annually and only anticipated by AS&C through a verbal agreement.
“The county needs to get more involved in animal control,” said AS&C president Cheryl Haasaker. “There is a danger to the public if the situation continues to get worse, and we’re seeing an increase in the animals we’re caring for. We are happy to continue fulfilling part of the county’s animal control function, until they establish animal control themselves, but we need the budget.”
AS&C says that, In the first three months of 2024, it has distributed 50% of last year’s total volume of spay and neuter coupons, which allow pet owners to more cheaply fix their animals. It also has already handled 20% of last year’s total for animal placement and care incidents,
which it says is unexpectedly high given most of its annual case volume comes in the sum– mer and fall.
Only the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office can enforce and cite municipal animal control violations, and state animal cruelty laws. Once the Sheriff’s Office becomes involved in an animal control case, it is presently required to transport the animal to Helena for placement into the Lewis & Clark County Shelter system. The Sheriff’s Office maintains a contract with Lewis & Clark animal control, through which it pays $125 per animal. Once the AS&C shelter becomes fully operational this Aug, the Sheriff’s Office will have a much easier time address– ing animal control cases. Ultimately, AS&C hopes to replace the services provided by Lewis & Clark County, at a fraction of the cost.
“At $125 a head, the AS&C saves the county serious money by deflecting animal problems away from the Sheriff’s Office,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Cory Kirsch. “We have room to increase our [financial] commitment, but not necessarily to the level they’re asking. They (AS&C) are doing really valuable work, but we need to be a bit conservative since taxpayers have already shot down a levy for them twice now.”
The last mill levy pursued by the county, with encouragement from AS&C, failed in June, 2022. The group says that, for the foreseeable future, they do not intend to encourage the County to pursue any new levies and will continue to operate solely on fundraising and community donations.
