Pet Rescue seeks funding from Othello
Pet Rescue seeks funding from Othello
OTHELLO — The Othello City Council discussed liability issues concerning the renewal of a contract with Pet Rescue Monday night.
Pet Rescue is a non-profit volunteer organization caring for animals impounded by the city.
The city discussed allowing volunteers to care for the animals on city property, if they are not employed by the city. Council discussed who is responsible for a volunteer if they are bitten by an animal after the three-day waiting period. The period is the time the city controls the animals before releasing them to Pet Rescue.
The city and Pet Rescue each have insurance policies, City Administrator Ehman Sheldon said.
Sheldon suggested the city have a Labor and Industries policy taken out for each volunteer to ensure a bite incident is adequately covered.
Councilmember Marc Spohr suggested Pet Rescue have a facility separate from the city lot. Pet Rescue might be able to get someone to donate a piece of their private property for detaining the animal, he said.
Pet Rescue Representative Ken Simmons said they could not move because there is no money for a separate facility. The organization operates with volunteers and donations, he said.
The council did not make a decision regarding the $3,000 annual contract because they were in a workshop, but agreed Pet Rescue provides the city a valuable service.
The volunteers feed, clean and exercise the dogs on a daily basis, Simmons said.
"We do have a large unwanted pet population here," he said. "We want to give them a chance to find a home."
Often the group finds animals who have been thrown over the fence into the impound area because no one wants to care for them, Simmons said.
The goal of the organization is to get all the animals adopted and spayed or neutered. If the animals are not claimed after the third day, they are altered and ads posted on the Internet for their adoption, Pet Rescue Member April Hoksbergen said.
People from all over the Northwest adopt the dogs, she said. Nearly 150 dogs were adopted out of Othello, which is a high number for adoptions, she added.
Pet Rescue pays for spaying, neutering and veterinary bills for any injuries to animals they receive, Hoksbergen said.
Simmons referenced a cat who was hit by a car in Othello recently. The organization rescued the cat who suffered a broken pelvis. The X-rays alone cost the group $150. The cat is being rehabilitated at Simmons' residence.
The cat could have been euthanized but it is not the purpose of the group, he added.
The renewal of the contract between the city and Pet Rescue will be discussed again at a council meeting before the contract expires Dec. 31.
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