Relations strained between city, humane society
Photo 
Angela Rhodes
JANESVILLE — The Janesville City Council OK'd hiring two part-timers to pick up abandoned and neglected animals even as members grappled with its rocky relationship with the Rock County Humane Society.
At least one official during Wednesday's budget study session questioned the truthfulness of Angela Rhodes, society executive director.
Members also directed City Manager Eric Levitt to pursue a contract with both the Dane County Humane Society and the Rock County Humane Society to care for strays. The Dane county society already has agreed to take Janesville's neglected and abandoned animals—so-called "owned" animals, which the Rock County society will no longer transport or accept.
"That way, if we cannot come to an agreement this year (with Rock County), or if they (costs) become unmanageable, we could go strictly to Dane County, which has over the last four or five years not increased their fees," Levitt said.
Dane County still must determine whether it has shelter room for more of Janesville's animals, Levitt said.
Councilman Russ Steeber said a contract with Dane County would keep the local humane society from being the only option.
"We're kind of at their mercy, and that's played out in the fees they've charged, the increases we've seen," Steeber said.
He said he doesn't believe the increases have been justified.
"Quite frankly, I'd move it all there (Dane County). The (society) has done us no favors."
Councilwoman Deb Dongarra-Adams agreed.
"I'd love to keep (it) local, but they're playing a game. And I think they're going to lose," she said.
The relationship between the Rock County Humane Society and the council became rocky about two years ago when the society doubled its charge to the city, from about $114,000 to $206,000 annually.
Society officials said then the additional charges still did not cover the cost of animal care. They said they were giving Janesville a break because they wanted the city to build a new animal facility.
To handle "owned" animals, Police Chief Dave Moore has suggested his department hire two part-time employees, who also could perform other duties.
Janesville had been paying $72,000 for a humane society worker to pick up strays during working hours Monday through Friday.
Moore appeared frustrated Wednesday when he told council members that Rhodes recently said $27,000 of the $72,000 is a "flat fee for stray care staff" that would continue to be charged to the city even if the city picks up animals.
"It is very difficult to provide a budget for animal care planning with the lack of candor by Angela Rhodes and the Rock County Humane Society," Moore said.
On Thursday, Moore said he's not sure his department could afford to hire two part-time employees if the city still must pay the humane society $27,000 for "stray care staff."
Rhodes called Moore's "lack of candor" comment "dishonest and hurtful."
"I didn't 'suddenly' find any additional fees. There are still costs involved with the intake and care of stray animals … Our own budget process has been compromised while we await their decision," she said.
Rhodes said she met with city staff in July and heard their plans but did not exchange budget numbers. She said she waited for recent confirmation to let them know what the fees would be.
Oct 15, 2012 at 1:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
mskari- tired of the argument of "the charge too much" They are spayed, have shots, are healthy to go home, are chipped,(Mounds ones already have rabies shot)etc. Try to do all this at the vet for $75!!!! plus all care they may have needed to be healthy to go home. Viruses are usually treated and deworming.
They had a 22 cats at $22 each special. I went in to pick up a calendar and didn't like seeing people scrapping up $22 for an extra one. Worry about the care this animal will get and if it will get fed. It costs more than $22 or $75 for a cat in case you didn't know!! Just read an article ave cost per year for one cat is $650. It is more the the $75!!!!! Please don't adopt if you think $75 is too high. I trip to the vet for more shots- YES there will be more shots and care will run you <$30.
Labeler- some have ot be killed because they cannot get them well. They also cannot tame ferrel cats that are brought in no matter how hard they try and so some of them will die as well. They cannot save them all!!!
Oct 13, 2012 at 3:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
Labeler80 is right-on.....Where, exactly, are we as a society??
Additionally, there are going to have to be some laws requiring spaying and neutering these animals, as much as people don't like "new laws"...This cruelty and mass killing has got to begin to end somewhere, the supply of newborn pets must be curtailed so the ones that are already here will have places to go other than the dead-pile.
Oct 13, 2012 at 12:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
I am with Community Cat. We are not in Sun Prairie. Perhaps you mean SpayMe? They have a low cost clinic in Sun Prairie, but not a shelter there. Community Cat does not take in owner relinquished animals or strays. We are an organization dedicated to facilitating low cost spay/neuter services focusing on trap-neuter-return for barn cats and feral cat colonies. We focus on preventing the litters before they get here! We do not have a shelter. All cats in our care are in foster homes. Friends of Noah is also foster home based. I think you will find that most recues around here are run totally by volunteers and work out of their own homes. I also know that most rescues are already beyond capacity.I know of no rescues who have the resources to take on the volume of RCHS. The rescues that are able to help do pull animals from there when they can.
Even if there were rescues and shelters to take on this responsibility it takes money, and lots of it. That money has to come from somewhere. Organizations rely on donations and fundraisers. This money comes from the public. There is no magic any of us can work to make this problem go away or cost less. It is very expensive to take in animals. They need medical care, minimally vaccinations and wormers. Many need to be spayed or neutered. Some come in with illness or injury. Some adoptables may remain with an organization an extended amount of time. Every day costs the rescue/shelter money. It is not inexpensive!
As a community we need to focus on the issues. Keeping animals out of shelters in the first place is key. Friends of Noah has a food bank to try to help people with financial issues. Trap/Neuter/Return for feral cats is a must. They don't belong in the shelters. Working with families on behavior issues and finding out WHY an animal is being relinquished. Many issues can be worked through. Offering low cost spay/neuter and microchipping. There are so many ways to deal with these issues.
No matter who takes in strays and who takes in owner surrenders, it costs money and that money has to come from somewhere.
Oct 13, 2012 at 11:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
And they claim they are a no kill shelter?!
Oct 13, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
I think it goes to show the mentality of the organization when they have the audacity to ask the city to build a new facility for them. What other private business has the city built for the owner. RCHS is a private business, non-profit, but still a private business.
Oct 13, 2012 at 12:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
Labeler80, the issue is not us supplying them with a new building, it is more about covering the ongoing care expenses (including food and medical care) associated with animals that fall under different rules than strays.
.
As for a no kill shelter, the Community Cat in Sun Prairie and Friends of Noah are two organizations that provide that option. I don't believe either of them is really equipped to step into this role.
.
Bella, Dane County probably sees this as a revenue source that will not add appreciably to their shelter populations. It's up to them whether they want to do it.
.
rexkramer, you should probably realize that her JOB is making certain that the Humane Society does not go bankrupt. This may be frustrating to those who see charities as having the obligation to act in place of government agencies that the public does not want to fund, but this is a fiscally responsible move for the organization.
.
StormChaser, it's all well and good to imagine recovering this money from the owners, but first of all, there ARE efforts to do that and in many cases it's a matter of squeezing blood from a stone. As a practical matter, the animals need services now and someone has to provide that financial support now, which is why the humane societies charge fees. It's not magic. Recovering that money requires a costly and lengthy civil legal process.
Oct 13, 2012 at 12:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
I pay taxes also and if these animals are unwanted then put them down.
Oct 12, 2012 at 10:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
Apologies for the typos, my phone is being wonky.
Oct 12, 2012 at 10:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
From reading the article, it seems the focus is on owned pets only. So instead of law enforcement needing to pass the problem along to an agency forcing them to absorb the costs, why not hold the pet owners responsible for their own pets legally and financially? How about issuing citations for neglected and abandoned pets instead? Make the owners pay for thir pets like the rest of us responsible pet ownets? They certainly can't force other businesses to provide cheap or free services, so why try and do it with "owned" pets?
Oct 12, 2012 at 10:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
rexkramer obviously has a short memory.
Oct 12, 2012 at 7:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
"Rhodes called Moore's "lack of candor" comment "dishonest and hurtful.""
>
As the saying goes, "If the shoe fits..." This idiot is going to have fun finding her next job when she lists "running Rock County Humane Society into the ground" as one of her accomplishments on her resume.
Oct 12, 2012 at 6:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
The Dane County Humane Society is so overrun with cats that they are running bargain basement adoption prices on them, right now.
Why are Janesville (and Rock County) eliminating their services and foisting them off on Dane County? Why is Dane County accepting contracts with outside agencies, when they can barely cope with providing services for the locals?
Oct 12, 2012 at 6:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
We can worry about crap like a little used ice arena and unneeded sidewalks but the city can't help build a suitable sized building for the R.C.H.S? Ever see the size of a pile of cat and dog carcasses that get creamated because there is no room or not enough food to provide? It's sad. These animals can not help it one little bit that they are in such surcumstances. And don't give me the old "well its irresponsible pet owners who neglect them or over breed them". Thats a small portion of such cases. People choose to give up pets for a myriad of reasons. ( moving, loss of job, or even elder owners who can no longer care for them ). We as a society should treat all animals with the dignity they deserve. Janesville should have a no kill shelter as an option for those people who do not want the burden of knowing when giving up a pet that it will not be needlessly killed because it's time had run out because of lack of funding. I pay my taxes an would like to see the city foot the bill wherever to help these animals who can not help themselves. It's only right.
Oct 12, 2012 at 5:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
MsKari, the Rock County Humane Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization. It covers its expenses through fees, grants, and donations.
http://www.guidestar.org/PartnerReport.a...
Oct 12, 2012 at 5:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
They charge so much to adopt these animals that nobody can afford it. I was wondering if the RCHS is a privately owned entity or does it get any funding other than donations ?
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.