Animal welfare advocates address county dog-cat problem

OKANOGAN – Nearly three dozen animal welfare advocates came together early last December at the 12 Tribes Casino to take a fresh look at the problem of - and potential solutions for - the issue of excess dog and cat numbers in the county. Guest speakers included County Commissioner Chris Branch, Okanogan County Sheriff-elect Paul Budrow, Omak Police Chief Dan Christensen, Stacie Ventura, Executive Director of The NOAH Center, Dave Yarnell, former Okanogan County Sheriff Animal Control Officer (ACO), and City of Brewster Finance Director/Clerk Misty Ruiz.

The event was organized by Team Okanogan, a new group formed to support existing organizations.

There was plenty to talk about and each speaker brought perspective, facts, and ideas to the table:

       • Ruiz explained how the City of Brewster contracts with OkanDogs of Cashmere and pays that nonprofit $125 per dog to collect its impounds as an alternative to euthanization.

Brewster negotiated its contract in December 2016, Ruiz told The Quad in a later interview.

“We’re the only city doing it,” said Ruiz. “I don’t understand why others aren’t doing it.”

At recent city council meetings Brewster officials have grappled with both stray dog and cat issues, most recently over concerns of the spread of the canine disease Parvo and how to arrest its spread.

       • Yarnell, who has experienced animal control challenges firsthand during his seven years as an ACO, said the Sheriff’s office receives enough animal complaints to warrant a full time ACO. The county has no dog ordinance and Yarnell noted that absence of regulations makes animal welfare enforcement difficult. Yarnell added that neither the county nor the sheriff’s office has an impound facility to house animals.

       • Ventura explained that NOAH, founded in 1988, built a new Stanwood facility in 2003 that has become one of the state’s largest spay/neuter clinics performing between 8,000 and 15,000 surgeries per year. Ventura said NOAH is a transfer-only facility that works with 60 partner shelters and uses a matchmaker model for its adoptions to find the right fit between human and animal. NOAH’s challenge is finding a veterinarian and cannot care for sick or injured animals, said Ventura, with limited space and foster families an ongoing issue.

       • Christensen said animal control is a huge problem with 900 complaint calls to his office in 2021 alone - more than the 840 theft calls received – but no funding to help animals. Omak’s old, outdated facility needs significant improvements, said Christensen, and the city’s ACO does not work weekends. With a 20 percent staff shortage recruitment is also a challenge.

       • Budrow said he is surprised by the lack of animal welfare resources in the county and recommends creating an animal care public education program within the sheriff’s office. Budrow said he recognizes the need for an AC unit within the department with better animal control training for deputies and access to microchip scanners.

       • Branch said county ordinances need to be upgraded, shelter facilities expanded, ACO numbers increased, and funding sourced for animal welfare. Branch said county residents need options for animals they can no longer care for and that he has personally found dogs that have been dumped in the forest.

A few facts:

       • Animal Foster Care Cat Shelter (AFC) took in 1,300 cats and kittens in 2021.

       • That same year AFC took 1,200 dogs and puppies were taken to rescues.

       • Many of these animals required advanced medical care and costly operations.

       • Adoption fees do not begin to cover the substantial per-animal care costs.

       • Over-capacity shelters and rescues are turning animals away; most have a waiting list that will take months - if not years - to clear.

“Last October, Okanogan Regional Humane, in cooperation with Animal Balance and a private veterinarian, was able to alter, vaccinate, and microchip more than 250 animals over five days,” said a TA media release. “Thanks to donor generosity no cost was incurred by owners for these services.”

Team Okanogan is planning future events. Email teamokanogan@gmail.com to be notified of future events or contact Okanogan Regional Humane at info@ok-humane.org to be placed on a waitlist.

In the meantime, Team Okanogan offers the following suggestions:

● Spay/neuter your pets and encourage others to do the same.

● Adopt! Rescues are overflowing with animals looking for a home.

● Vaccinate your animals – prevention is cheaper than treating deadly viruses like canine parvo and feline panleukopenia, both rampant in Okanogan County.

● Volunteer your time to your local animal rescue groups.

● Donate money or supplies directly to local rescues.

● Foster animals in your home; every rescue in the county is at capacity and foster homes are desperately needed.

● Offer your professional services - rescues need veterinarians, contractors, social media assistance, accountants, etc.

● Follow local Facebook rescue pages and share with others – spread the word and amplify the need.

● Advocate for updating the existing animal ordinances, laws, and fines.

● Contact state and local officials and express support for funds to be allocated for domestic animal issues, animal control officers, facilities, and other resources.