Regional animal control services under consideration: updated

Updated and corrected information from the City of Shoreline June 6

The new shelter for Shoreline animals is PAWS, 15305 4th Ave W, Lynnwood. Website. 425-787-2500, Since May 1 they have been accepting owner-surrendered animals from Shoreline.  Starting June 1, they accept stray animals from residents.  As of July 1, stray animals will be accepted from animal control. For more info, contact the City of Shoreline 206-801-2700.

Lake Forest Park is considering their options. Each City contracts separately for services. 

Earlier this year, King County informed the 34 suburban cities it served that it would no longer be providing animal control services. Seattle has its own animal services and shelter. The original time line for termination of county services was short and would have required cities to have animal shelter, animal control officer, and licensing operations, or contracts for those services, up and running in an unrealistic period of time. 

The feedback from many cities in the county was that they were interested in looking at alternatives for how these services could be provided, including a regional approach with King County. The King County Council extended the timeframe for the termination of current cities contracts until June 30, providing cities and the county the time necessary to develop a proposed regional model for animal control services.

At the Shoreline City Council’s April 26 meeting, Shoreline staff presented three options for how animal control services could be provided, including the King County regional model, a north King County sub-regional model, and bringing animal control services in-house. 

In all three of these service options, staff stated that Shoreline would contract with PAWS in Lynnwood for shelter services. Under the current county contract, animals are taken to the county-operated shelters in Bellevue and Kent.

Twenty-seven of the 34 original contracting cities, including Lake Forest Park and Shoreline, have indicated interest in participating in the regional model through interlocal agreements lasting two-and-a-half years. If a critical mass of those cities follow through to sign contracts and the County Council approves, the new Regional Animal Services of King County would be implemented starting July 1.

Lake Forest Park city council will be reviewing the contract at their June 10 meeting and the Shoreline City Council will be reviewing the interlocal agreement on June 28. Contracts must be in place by June 30. The full County Council is scheduled to hold public hearings on the regional animal services model on June 14 and 21, with potential action set for June 21 and implementation on July 1.

One of the consequences of the change is that the county will be very aggressive about making sure that all animals are licensed and there will be penalties for those who are not. The county would also like to enter into concession agreements with vendors to sell animal-related products and services, and to sell advertising, sponsorship and naming rights for the benefit of regional animal services.

Animal licenses are sold at both Shoreline and Lake Forest Park city halls. Senior citizens can purchase a reduced-cost, lifetime license for each pet.