‘We have to have a place to take them’: Riverton City Council considering new approaches to animal shelter services

(Riverton, WY) – The Riverton City Council voted this week to disband the recently created Paws for the Cause Committee.

“I think that the committee has served its purpose,” Councilmember Karen Johnson said Tuesday, recommending that municipal staff move forward with developing the city’s funding agreement with the Paws for Life Animal Shelter for the coming year.

Johnson also recommended that the city begin contracting with another local adoption agency to take impounded animals: Furever Found.

That group has been accepting municipal animals for the past month, Johnson said, noting that the Paws shelter has been “unable to accept (the animals) we’ve brought to them” in recent weeks.

“It might be in the city’s best interest to utilize both organizations (so we) always have a place to bring animals,” Johnson said, adding, “We have to have a place to take them, and we can no longer be told, ‘No.’”

Per-animal fee?

Riverton Police Department Chief Eric Hurtado later confirmed that Paws for Life has been “full since Aug. 11.”

That isn’t necessarily Paws’ fault, Councilmember Karla Borders said, pointing out that, while the city has an “obligation” to impound stray cats and dogs, the nonprofit organization’s mission is to “rescue animals.”

“When Paws runs out of room, what are they supposed to do?” she asked. “You can’t make space where there is none, (and) they are not going to euthanize. They’re a no-kill shelter, and they’re not going to change that – and I don’t think they should have to.”

Councilmember Mike Bailey also expressed support for Paws and other local animal adoption organizations – but he reiterated that “the City of Riverton’s main responsibility is for code enforcement: picking up strays (and) having a place to put them for our required five to 10 day hold.”

“That has happened some of the time (with) Paws, but also quite a bit of the time they didn’t have room – they were full,” Bailey said. “I think we have to look at that, and I think we need to relook at (their) contract for services from that perspective.”

Mayor Tim Hancock agreed that, “if the city is having an issue with animal control, (and) Paws is not able to provide the space that we need … why would we keep that relationship without figuring out different ways to adjust it?” 

For example, instead of paying Paws a “lump sum” to house municipal strays each year, Hancock said the city could start paying the shelter – or other local animal adoption agencies – “by animal.”

“That, to me, would be the easiest way to make sense,” he said. “If you can take an animal, we will pay you to take that animal. If you can’t, we won’t.”

Johnson expressed support for that idea, adding that the city should only pay for municipal animals to be held for the amount of time required by local ordinance.

After that, Johnson said the city should pay a “surrender fee” and allow the adoption agency to “care for” the animal “until it’s found a home.”

“I think that would make sense,” Hancock said. 

Bailey wasn’t so sure, however.

“I don’t know that the city should pay to give the (animal) to them at the end of five days,” he said. “It’s their decision at that point whether they want to take that (animal) or not.”

Later, Bailey suggested that the council schedule a work session to discuss the details further.

The council is scheduled to consider approving its contract for services with Paws on Sept. 15, Hancock pointed out – but Bailey said it would be “a little premature” to finalize the contract if the payment details haven’t yet been solidified.

Regardless, Borders said Paws still has a facility to run, “and they need the money.”

“I don’t think it’s fair that they have to wait (for payment) until everyone figures out what they’re doing,” she said. “There should be a happy medium somewhere that can take care of the city and Paws that’s performing this service.”

Hancock said he would ask city staff to present a proposed contract to the council for discussion on Sept. 15.